Phew! Thanksgiving has been done and dusted - the notoriously strenuous and stressful holiday season is now (officially) underway.

We have always touted the benefits of regular infrared saunas, hot / cold therapy (thinking coupling your sauna sesh with a cryo addition), and preventative IV therapy to build immunity… but what about those vitamins and supplements you hear so much about? What are those doing to help fight and advocate for your health needs this winter and cold / flu / stomach bug season?

Well, we’re here to tell you our top products (and some special vitamins and ingredients) to give you a leg-up on not getting bogged down by the bugs that stalk the months ahead.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

There’s just a few simple measures you need to consider during the seasonal shifts that do wonders to build a solid preventative shield against seasonal bugs:

Wash your Hands Continuously & Avoid Touching Your Face

Cold viruses can live on your hands for up to 24 hours and they can enter your body through your nose, mouth, and eyes so it’s important to keep your hands clean.

Get Good Sleep

Add Magnesium to your nightly ritual to wind down after a long day and settle into a non-drowsy rhythm. We love the Ancient Minerals Magnesium lotion, which we apply to our feet and arms at night.

Stay Hydrated

Drink lots of fluids. This can include water, decaffeinated tea, juice (but skip anything with too much sugar), and soup. We recommend minimizing alcohol intake as well as soda and coffee that can tap your immunity resources with dehydrating effects. Overdid it at the holiday party? Get back in action with some electrolytes from Cymbiotika, which are a delicious additive to your water.

Reduce Congestion

Use a cool mist vaporizer or run a hot, steamy shower. You can also try a sinus rinse with saline solution and prop your head up with pillows in bed - This may allow some of your congestion to drain from your nose while you sleep. A Salt Pipe Inhaler will become your (and your kids’s) best friend this cold season, for this reason alone.

Spice Up Your Food

When your body is building defenses against viruses, inflammation can occur. Try adding some spices to your food to potentially reduce inflammation — while giving your meal an extra kick of flavor: Turmeric, Ginger, and Garlic are all solid natural solutions to pack a little punch in each of your meals. This Immunity tincture’s primary ingredient is Cinnamon, an herbal ally and protector against infection.

VITAMINS TO DOUBLE DOWN ON

Some pill and powder supplements are more effective than others at helping to build and maintain your immunity - but it’s really about building your immunity foundation with good, whole foods. We recommend the following vitamins - that can be taken via supplementary pill form, or naturally in the foods we incorporate into our diets:

Vitamin A

Liver, fish, eggs, and dairy products all have high concentrations of Vitamin A. Also be sure to add orange and yellow vegetables and tomato products to your meals for added oomph.

Vitamin C

Citrus fruits (think oranges and lemons in particular), potatoes, red and green peppers, kiwifruit, broccoli, strawberries, brussels sprouts, and cantaloupe are all excellent sources of Vitamin C.

Vitamin D

Oily fish, including salmon, mackerel, and sardines pack a major punch with Vitamin D supplementation. Not a big fan of fish? Smaller amounts are found in egg yolks, cheese, beef liver, as well as certain types of mushrooms.

Vitamin E

Tree Nuts such as peanuts, almonds, and even their derivatives peanut butter and almond butters hold some of the highest concentrations of Vitamin E. We recommend eating these as-is or with reduced sugar contents (just check the labels to be sure).

Selenium

Brazil nuts, seafoods, and organ meats are the richest food sources of selenium

Zinc

The richest food sources of zinc include meat, fish, and seafood. Oyster lovers, rejoice! Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food.

IMMUNITY BUILDING SOUP RECIPE

This recipe for a tried and true recipe from The Roasted Root is a great way to get in all of these vitamins and minerals in a deliciously healthful way.

CHECK IT OUT