Ah-Ah-Ah-choo!



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If you don't know by now, cold/flu season is officially here. I mean it's been here for a while but I personally wasn't affected by it until recently. I didn't quite catch the flu but I did get a "small" cold. Due to the fact that I work with adorably small children (kindergartners) who constantly have runny noses and the sniffles, I have to take preventative measures when attempting to avoid every little nasty bug that goes around in a classroom. Thus, I thought I would share a few helpful tips that I currently use to prevent and sooth a cold/flu.


Echinacea
Ecka-what? Echinacea is an herbal remedy often use to treat the common cold. Studies have shown that this plant can boost the immune system and reduce the severity or length of colds. I can personally testify to this.  The key to echinacea's effrectiveness is to take it at the first signs of the sniffles. However, if you're allergic to other plants in the daisy family (daisies, ragweed, chrysanthemums, and marigolds) I wouldn't recommend taking echinacea due to a possible allergic reaction.


Vitamin C
I'm sure everyone and their momma knows about taking vitamin C when they're sick. Vitamin C is great to take because it's an antioxidant that plays an important role in keeping the body strong and healthy. Thus, I like taking a daily vitamin C supplement to more so prevent colds and other illnesses.


Garlic
Yes that's right I said garlic! Aside from possible stinky breath, garlic can have a positive effect on the immune system as a whole. It might indirectly help the body to fight off illnesses. In particularly, it's said to help treat the symptoms of colds and flu, however it's best used as a preventative remedy. The use of garlic against colds and flu seems to be most effective when taken immediately before the symptoms begin to show or worsen. I don't take a garlic supplement but I do get my daily garlic intake by adding garlic in almost all of my savory dishes...it adds such great flavor.


Zinc
I only take zinc supplements when I feel as though my immune system is low (more so when I've been repeatedly sneezed and coughed on throughout the day...hey it happens...a lot ). Zinc has been shown to reduced the length of a cold by one day and reduce the number of colds each year.


Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Nothing more comforting than a nice big bowl of chicken soup when you're feeling knid of blah. Chicken soup may be soothing because of its possible anti-inflammatory and mucus-thinning effects. Click here, here and here for a few fantastic chicken soup recipes (courtesy of Food Network)!


Cold Season Tea by Yogi Teas
No matter if I'm sick or not I love sipping on a nice hot cup of tea. There are so many different flavors and types that are favorites of mine. I recently discovered Yogi Cold Season tea. This tea is great for those times when you feel congested and you just want it to loosen up a little!


Fish Oil
Okay I know what you're thinking...first the stinky garlic thing and now stinky fish, what's wrong with this girl? But I can not think of a time when I haven't taken fish oil for colds or for the prevention of them. As a matter of fact I take fish oil supplements everyday. My parents grew up taking it. Their parents took it and generations before them took it. Heck, my future children will probably have to take it too. The Omega 3′s in fish oil help our bodies fight off sickness, reduce inflammation, flush out toxins, and maintain overall immune balance. If you're worried about the stink factor on this one no worries because you can get fish oil in capsule form.

Ah-choo! Chest Rub by Nature's Baby Organics
Although this product was intended for the little ones it works well for us adults too! It's particularly great for rubbing on your chest and throat. This has helped soothe my nasal/chest congestion and soar throat in the past. Added bonus, 95% of the ingredients are organic!


Sleep Well. Eat Well.
A healthy diet does so much when it comes to reducing your chances of getting sick.  A healthy diet can boost the immune system and can help the body heel more efficiently and effectivly when you are sick.


Getting the right amount of sleep (7-9 hours) might be one of the best ways to preventing colds. Researchers have shown that not just the amount of sleep plays a part in staying healthy but the quality of sleep is important also.




*Some of the information above was source from mayoclinic.com, webmd.com, and/or wikipedia.com