Who likes to get sick?  Nobody!!!  I know that I turn into a babbling idiot when I get a cold or flu.  My physical symptoms quickly move into mental and emotional trauma.  So, I do everything in my power to avert or shorten the length or chance of a cold or flu.

     

     Here is a list of my top proven remedies:

     What is it about that stinky little root that is so powerful? The cold and flu-fighting agent in garlic is called allicin. It is a compound that doesn't start to work until you chop or chew a clove of garlic.  That is when allicin becomes active and can kill bacteria, virus, and other microbes that are making you feel sick.
 

     When I start to feel that cold or flu coming on, I do the following:

• Take a bulb of garlic out of the fridge 
• Chop up 2-3 small cloves
• Wait 10 minutes for the allicin to be activated (by the chopping)
• Chew 6-10 times and swallow with water

     I continue this process every few hours until I don't feel anymore symptoms. 

     Lypo-C is best taken by squeezing a packet into 2-3 ounces of water and shooting it straight to the back of the throat. 

 

     We call this the sunshine nutrient. Who doesn't want a little more sunshine during the darker winter months? But Vitamin D is more than just a vitamin.  It acts more like a hormone in your body.  Will taking a high dose of Vitamin D help get rid of a cold or flu?  Not necessarily.  But if you have low Vitamin D levels you will be more prone to getting colds and flus; and those illnesses will last longer. 

 

"The range should be 100 to 160 nmol/L or 40 to 65 ng/ml. In the future, we may raise this 'optimal' level even higher."

      Click here to order a home kit for testing your Vitamin D levels. For an even easier way to get your results interpreted, just set up a free 15 minute consultation with me so we can discuss them. 

     Mucinex(TM) has made a fortune selling this tree resin, Guaifenesin.  This has been around since the 16th century. Guaifenesin is an expectorant. That means it helps expel mucos from your lungs and bronchial tubes.  When I have congestion in my lungs though, I don't buy Mucinex because it has too many ingredients like carbomer 934P, NF; FD&C blue #1 aluminum lake; hypromellose, USP; magnesium stearate, NF; microcrystalline cellulose, NF; sodium starch glycolate in it and it is very expensive.

     Instead I use Air Power, by Enzymatic Therapy, because it is less expensive and I can identify all of the ingredients.  I take 2 tablets every 4 hours as directed on the label.

 

     The mucus membranes in your nose and mouth should always be moist so they can act like a sponge to collect and kill bacteria and viruses.  If you are dehydrated these membranes will also be dry, brittle and unable to do their important job. 

      I drink lots water and even add liquid minerals to stay hydrated.  And it's good to drink 8 ounces of bone broth during the colder months. 

     And last but not least here are some other items I sneak into my winter wellness plan:

and don't forget the homemade ginger tea 

 

 For additional recipes, biohacking tips and lifestyle hacks -- check out my other blog on my coaching site www.cleancoachcarly.com! I post weekly about nutrition and lifestyle topics, all backed by science. Happy Reading!

To learn even more winter wellness tips check out these links: