Winning the War on Colds

So I'm not sure if its just me or does it seem that everyone it battling a post winter head cold that seems to turn into a cough?

Last week there was definitely the beginnings of the tale tail signs sickness was in the house.

I want to share some remedies we alway use at our house - these have been learned through my course of study and many have been past through the generations.

Did you know there is over 200 different viruses can cause common cold symptoms and they are spread in the air via coughing or sneezing or fingers in the mouth from person to person (I hear all the parents out their shudder).

People whose immune system is not functioning well or have nutrient deficiencies are more prone to catching colds. Other reasons can be lack of sleep, exposure to moulds, gong through short or long term emotional stress, impaired gut health and traveling.

The great news is there are many natural head cold remedies to help you get rid of your symptoms fast!

Foods to include

Pure Water – Adequate hydration is vital to flushing out viruses and toxins from your system. Try to drink at least 1 glass of warm water every 2 hours. Tap water does not count - at the very least boil the water to remove the chlorine.

Warm water with lemon, raw honey, ginger and cinnamon – helps prevent and reduce mucus buildup, alkalizes your system (bugs always breed faster in a acid body) and keeps you hydrated.

Bone Broth – Grandma was onto it with this one - contains amino acids and minerals that support immunity and gut healing. Cartons from the supermarket don't count. You have to consume broth made from real bones that are slowly simmered to draw out the amazing nutrients. Another option is Nutraorganics bone broth.

Garlic, onions and cayenne pepper – Help boost immune function as well as having antibacterial, antiviral and natural antibiotic properties.

A brew I have made for years at home is: Finely chop one onion, 6 cloves garlic, 2 cayenne peppers, 5cm knob of ginger. Add to a jar and then cover with organic apple cider vinegar. Take 1TBS every hour as soon as you feel a cold coming on - it'll blow your socks off but does the job! (If you have thyme of oregano handy this is also a wonderful addition)

Foods to Avoid

Sugar – Suppresses the immune system by decreasing white blood cells that help fight infection.

Conventional Dairy – Pasteurized milk and all other dairy products are mucus producing. A guaranteed way to may your head more congested

Processed food and grains – Wheat breads, cereals, wheat products, pastas, and white flour products breakdown into sugar in the body and therefore weaken the immune system. Most processed foods contain “empty calories” - this means no nutrients for supporting your immune system as well as being toxic to the body.

Supplements

Blis Throat Guard - A specific probiotic that targets ear, nose and throat. Instead of just crowding out the bad bacteria, which is the way most probiotics work, BLIS K12™ is a specific strain of S. salivarius that produces antimicrobial substances (BLIS) that target and target the pathogens associated with ear, nose, and throat (ENT) infections. Colonizes and persists in the mouth, supporting healthy levels of beneficial microbes to prevent reinfection. This probiotic is an absolute winner at our house!! Can be purchased online or at most pharmacies.

Liposomal Vitamin C - Most forms of oral vitamin C - tablets, capsules, powders, liquids and even the vitamin C from your diet - are not processed and absorbed efficiently by your body and if gut health is impaired this is more of an issue. As a result, much of this vitamin C is never transferred into your bloodstream and even less of it makes it into your cells where it's needed most. Liposomal Vitamin C encapsulates the C molecules in liposomes made from Essential Phospholipids, which protect the vitamin C from destruction in the digestive system directly into your bloodstream, and into your cells to fight the infection. We have used these products for a long time and its really effective at stopping a cold in tracks if you get straight onto it. Can be purchased online or at most health shops.

Eucalyptus essential oil can open up the sinuses and lungs helping relieve congestion. Use in a vaporiser or steam inhalations. Quality is important so research the brand of essential oils.

Frankincense essential oil boosts the immune system and is amazing for steam inhalations for all respiratory aliments. Quality is important so research the brand of essential oils.

These are just a few remedies and recommendations. Short and sweet is better for most when reading these blogs but if there's something in here that you think I've missed or you have an awesome remedy you would like to share please post it in the comments below.