Staying Well in Winter
Whenever the seasons change we are visited by viruses and bugs. This year is no different. I'm not sure if the 'terrible cold' sweeping the country is just that we haven't caught any colds for two years or if it's truly terrible but I do know both my husband and daughter were very under the weather with it. Seeing them suffer made me think that we really ought to be making ready because this happens most years and there are plenty of things we can do to keep ourselves well. Have a look at the ideas below.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 - Those of us that live in the Western hemisphere don't get the benefit of our naturally occurring vitamin D during the darker days of winter. It's now recommended that everyone takes a vitamin D supplement during winter in the UK but how do you know which one or how much. Well, research suggests that vitamin D2 is less effective than vitamin D3 at raising blood levels of vitamin D so that's the one you need to source. NICE says that adults (including women who are pregnant or breastfeeding), young people and children over 4 years should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (400 units; also called international units [IU]) of vitamin D between October and early March because people do not make enough vitamin D. That's good enough for me
Zinc
Zinc - "....zinc treatment applied at a therapeutic dose and in the right form has the potential to drastically improve the clearance of both chronic and acute viral infections, as well as their accompanying pathologies and symptoms....." according to Scott A Read, Stephanie Obeid, Chantelle Ahlenstiel, and Golo Ahlenstiel in their article "The Role of Zinc in Antiviral Immunity." Published online 2019 Apr 22.
There's plenty of evidence that zinc gives us a better chance of fighting off those seasonal bugs.
Vitamin C
The jury is still kind of out for Vitamin C. According to research, the average adult who suffers from a cold for 12 days a year would still suffer for about 11 days a year if that person took a high dose of vitamin C every day during that year, so not really helpful for colds but it will protect cells and keep them healthy, as well as help to maintain skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage.
Here's an interesting fact for you: You would need to eat around 2 Kilos of oranges every day, to achieve the same high strength dose of 1000mg Vitamin C.
Supplements
The fact is, getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals from our food is tricker than it used to be. Much of our food doesn't have the same rich sources of things it used to have, as a result of intensive farming, so a supplement might be your answer.
Finding the right supplement can be tricky - much of what you buy over the counter may not be bio-available, meaning it may say it's got calcium in it for example, but if it's rock-based, rather than chelated it won't do you much good because you cannot metabolise it. If your supplement says calcium carbonate then it's not lying to you, it contains calcium but you are literally swallowing chalk and it's not going to have any real value as it goes into your system and then reemerges sometime later.
That's why I recommend the Life Long Vitality system by dōTERRA® to buy the contents of this incredible supplement separately would cost you a lot more money than the system costs and it comes with a money-back guarantee and I don't know of another supplement that offers that.
If you would like some more information about the system then do get in touch better still hop on an information workshop where you'll learn more.
If it's too late and you have started that cold, scroll down.
Too Late You're all Snuffles
dōTERRA® Breathe has a calming and soothing effect when applied topically. The blend is enriched with a combination of oils meant to help cool and enliven the body, providing you with feelings of clear airways. Try using it in the following ways.
- Combine with Epsom salts in a warm bath for a soothing sensation.
- Add three drops to the shower floor.
- Use topically before outdoor activity
Oils you'll recognise in the blend are eucalyptus and peppermint - both known for their 'vapour' when managing a stuffy nose.