Natural Remedies for Winter Cold and Flu

winter

Oh boy, it’s that time of year! I know in our house we have already had to break out and use some of these natural remedies. Here’s this year’s revised list of what I use to keep my family healthy in the winter months. I arranged the list from what I think is most important to the extra “nice to have” goodies.

 Preventative Measures:

 

Beautiful Veggies

1. EAT “Ruffage”. YES- I like this word to describe raw vegetables and fruits. It’s just more….visual. Keeping your colon healthy and flowing in the winter months is very important for boosting your immunity. So much of your immune system exists within your colon. Fruits and veggies are also going to be your primary source for fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Eating healthy does not have to take tons of extra time. I make all of my food for the day in the morning before work. Getting up a little bit early, or making four salads on Sunday night (for the week) or adding a green smoothie isn’t going to take too much extra time, and the benefits could be well worth it! If eating cold food doesn’t sound appealing to you because it’s 20 degrees outside, then supplement your salad with a cup of your favorite soup.

2. Take a Daily Food-Based Multi-Vitamin- You may wonder why this would even be necessary if you’re already eating plenty of raw fruits and veggies? I look at it as insurance…the soil our fruits and vegetables are grown in has definitely been depleted of its natural vitamin and mineral content, so we can’t depend on our diets alone. I like Dr. Williams brand of vitamins, but if they aren’t quite in your price range OR you don’t like taking that many caplets (there are 8 in each Dr. Williams packet), I also like Rainbow Light brand. My daughter takes Nature’s Plus Animal Parade Vitamins and also a daily probiotic from Nature’s Way.

3. Take Vitamin D3- 2,000-4,000 IU Daily- Buy a brand like Vital Choice which has an Omega-3 rich oil base to receive anti-inflammatory benefits too! For my daughter, I use Vitacost’s “Baby-D” drops which only contain olive oil as an additional ingredient and is very affordable! I give her 800-1,200 IU twice a day in cold weather season. For those on a budget, use Vitacost’s 5,000iu Vitamin D capsules.

betaglucan_web

 4. Beta-1, 3D Glucan- I originally started taking this immune boosting supplement when I began my natural cancer regimen in 2008, but after several years of dishing out $60 a bottle each month, I decided that in order to save money, I would focus less on supplement reliance and more on my diet.  Then, in February of this year, just before my second daughter was born, I was given a few bottles of Beta Glucan as a gift. I began taking it again, and within a few weeks the flu swept through my house and the school I was working at. It didn’t even phase me, even with all of the sleep deprivation I had with a newborn baby.

It has been 9 months now and I have been amazed at my ability to avoid illness, not to mention the one cold I caught a few weeks ago lasted for about 3 days. I am now biting the financial bullet and taking Beta Glucan again daily. If it was powerful enough to help me fend off cancer, I will be taking it throughout these tough winter months gladly. I really notice a difference. As my dad said when I was complaining about its cost: “Look at that $60 a month as a really cheap insurance plan.” Phyllis at Ancient 5 has the best deal on Beta-1, 3D Glucan. She also has some really great deals on bulk BG that can significantly reduce the price per bottle.

 

When the Cold and Flu Visits You:

 

1. For acute IMMUNE BOOSTING to fight ANY illness, my SUPERSTAR favorite of the supplement world is A-C-F.

If you buy this GEM at Whole Foods you will pay a pretty penny, so I recommend buying it now at Vitacost.com where it is half the cost ($13 compared to $26) and BEFORE you’ll need it. We keep a stock in our pantry of both ACF Fast Relief Immune Support, Children’s ACF, and Cough Relief ACF. (When we are out of Children’s ACF I give my daughter a half dose of the adult tonic- although warning, the taste is intense!

2. For Cold and Cough- Hyland’s DEFEND Cold and Cough Nighttime and for KIDS- Children’s Cold and Cough Nighttime

3. For Sore Throat- I gargle 1 – 2 Tbsp Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar and swallow when I have a sore throat. I also have used honey mixed with a dash of cayenne pepper when my throat feels super sore.

4. For Congestion you can’t beat a Neti-Pot or similar nasal irrigation systems. Also, if post-nasal drip is a problem for you, I find Neti-Pots extremely helpful! I purchased mine at Walgreens which came with the solution used inside to help dry up mucous.

For my infant daughter, I love the Nosefrida Snot Sucker. Even if you don’t have kids, you need to click on this link to see this thing. You literally suck the snot out of your kid’s nose. (Don’t worry- it has a filter you’ll also need to purchase, as if that makes the gross-factor better.)

5. Humidifier- I like Crane’s Cool Mist Humidifier for sore throat, congestion, and coughing. When our sinuses are dried out in the cold winter months, they are more prone to overreact with mucous at night AND be more vulnerable to additional microbes and bacteria during the day. Keeping them moist at night is extremely helpful! (This humidifier is pretty easy to clean as well and only requires daily emptying and weekly cleaning with water and vinegar.)

 

Save Some MONEY and Help Out Green Drink Diaries!

Most of the links above are from Vitacost and are the lowest prices out there. If you use my Vitacost referral code, you can save $10 on your first order over $49 and continue to get great Vitacost prices on any future orders. You will have to create a Vitacost account which you will do anyways to complete your order. Trust me- there is no weird monthly fee or anything like that. I’ve been using Vitacost for several years now, and if you’re going to live a more “natural” lifestyle, savings like this are a MUST!

Get your $10 off HERE.

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5 thoughts on “Natural Remedies for Winter Cold and Flu

  1. Hi, Courtney!
    Thank you for all the information that you are sharing with us, I really appreciate it! I have just bought Vitacost vitamin D drops for my 2 children and I have some questions: you wrote that in winter months you give your daughter 800-1,200 IU twice a day – so that means 800-1200 in the morning and 800-1200 in the afternoon OR alltogether 800-1200 per day? And also which amount is safe for 1 year old child in winter months? What about in summertime, do you also add D-drops or just sunshine 🙂 ?
    I would be very grateful for your answer. Thank you

  2. Hello and Have a Healthy , Happy and Peaceful 2014! I just want to let you know that I have used the ACF, and it is GREAT Stuff. I have chronic sinus infections and I got better faster by taking the ACF. I did not use any antibiotics this time. I just used the ACF, ACV, Elderberry conc…I call it ” the marinade” 2to3x daily and as well GSE (grapefruit seed extract) with the saline solution in my neti pot. I have bought the childrens one for my child . Have you used the ‘prevention ACF”? I looked at the ingredients and it has Beta 1,3 / 1,4 glucans (B-Can)..that is not the same as the 1,3 D Glucan? Thanks again for all the sharing. GOD BLESS you and your family !

  3. In regards to the medications and supplememts you mention above, and in particular the Beta Glucan, did you take them while you were pregnant or breast-feeding? Do you consider them safe for pregnant women and/or nursing mothers?

    • Hi there! I have taken Beta Glucan for 5 years now while nursing and pregnant (and currently am while nursing) and I believe it to be fine. I was also reassured by the company and retailer of its safety. It has not been approved or tested by the FDA, so it’s a personal resolve to how safe you feel about it. (: