It's that time of the year. Many are getting colds or have already had one. It's very hard for me to comprehend that the people I talk to don't seem to be very interested in not only preventing getting sick but also once they get early symptoms treating those symptoms asap.
When friends, family, and even clients tell me they are getting a cold. My response is "are you taking anything for it?" Their response usually is "no" "like what?" or something like "Nyquil or just a decongestant."
A good probiotic and improved good gut health has prevented me from getting a cold in over 8.5 years. (70% of your immune system is in your gut)
I personally like the Probiotic "Smidge" (formerly GutPro) it is a higher end price but will last for close to a year.
I actually haven’t had the flu in 21 years and haven't had a cold in about 8.5 years. These are things I take or eat daily to build and maintain a strong immune system. (you may get all vitamins below from food but it can be a challenge)
-Vitamin C- 1 gram a day (1000 mg)
-Vitamin D3- 50 mcg per day (I personally may get my extra vitamin D and A from cod liver oil and of course daily sunlight)
-Magnesium- 500 mg per day (I like mega mag drops which also include chloride, sodium, potassium, sulfate, and boron)
-Ginger root tea (fresh ginger root). Wash and peel root. Then Cut into small pieces. Get 16-20 oz of filtered water In pan and bring to boil. Once water is boiling, add root, then turn to low and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Let tea cool a bit before drinking. Try to drink hot but Cold later is fine too.
-Organic fermented kimchi or sauerkraut (food source probiotic)
-Organic Turmeric with black pepper (Mixed in fresh organic bone broth)
Other things that are harder to come by but work well are oregano or thieves oil, colloidal silver, and elderberry or bilberry. Even something like zinc lozenges will help with early signs of a cold. (I don't prefer or recommend those because the are rough on the tastes buds and have lots of artificial sweeteners and preservatives)
I can't tell you how many times I had early symptoms of a cold that went away in 24-48 hours or less. I am in prevention mode now since I no longer get sick, yet if I feel a little bit off once in a while I just slowly increase my dosage of these vitamins and foods above. As always its good to focus on getting lots of rest 7-8 hours per night, get lots of clean water (I drink a gallon a day of distilled per day), exercise, eat health supportive meals (lean proteins, fruits and veggies, healthy fats, and non processed carbs) and of course reduce stress.
