By Audrey Sckoropad
Winter is upon us. Cold weather is just around the corner, which means it’s time to rely on the pillars of health to get through winter. As a mother of three young children, I embrace a healthy lifestyle and incorporate various supplements into our daily routine.
We all want to avoid viral infections (especially these days). So, what can we do to strengthen our immune system and natural defenses? When it comes to the pillars of health, I always aim to find a balance between physical activity, emotional and mental wellbeing, and healthy eating, including natural remedies and supplements.
A healthy diet consisting of whole foods is very important. The nutrients in fresh fruits and vegetables help maintain a strong immune system. Since local, seasonal produce is not as abundant during the winter months, it makes sense to incorporate dietary supplements into our daily routine for an additional dose of minerals and nutrients.
For example, I like to add whole food powders to my oatmeal and smoothies, for example, wild blueberry powder, which is very rich in antioxidants and has a sweet, tangy taste—even the kids love it.
I also like to drink golden turmeric milks, such as Botanica’s Chocolate Turmeric Golden Mylk with ashwagandha, which I buy at Rachelle Béry. It has a comforting, healthy and nutritious taste. I add a dash of maple syrup and frothed macadamia nut milk—it’s really delicious!
Another dietary supplement that is clinically proven to be effective and suitable for all ages is Bio-Strath. Bio-Strath. Available in either elixir or tablet form, this product has several health benefits, such as improving concentration and physical performance, and helping the body fight colds and the flu. Bio-Strath is made from plasmolyzed nutritional yeast and contains over 60 minerals as well as the full range of essential amino acids and B vitamins.
As the days grow shorter, so does our exposure to sunshine. We don’t spend as much time in the sun, meaning we store less vitamin D and use up more of our reserves. Vitamin D is essential for maintaining good health. Fish is one of the best sources of dietary vitamin D, but it is not suitable for all diets. Some vitamin D supplements are derived from lanolin (sheep), which is also not suitable for vegans like me. That’s why I use vitamin D3 derived from lichen, a plant source. A. Vogel vegan vitamin D3 contains 1000 IU per tablet.
To warm me up on those cold winter days, I like to have comforting and nourishing herbal teas on hand. My current favourite is organic nettle herbal tea from Clef des Champs. Rich in iron and trace elements, nettle is used as a tonic and to restore energy. Nettle figures prominently in traditional pharmacopoeia because it is rich in minerals and trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, iron, chromium, boron, cadmium, cobalt, copper, tin, manganese, mercury, nickel, phosphorus, lead, potassium, sulphur and zinc. Nettle also contains chlorophyll, carotenoids, mucilage, tannins, amino acids and vitamins B, C, E and K.
Another key to staying healthy is to provide our immune system with what it takes to neutralize viral infections. Clinically proven medicinal plants are very useful in increasing our white blood cells’ ability to fight pathogens. Echinaforce for adults and children is my family’s product of choice. It is made from fresh organic echinacea. With over 30 clinical trials, it has proven to be a safe, effective product that can significantly reduce the risk of viral infections, secondary complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis, and antibiotic use.
Those are my cold-season essential supplements and natural remedies for the cold season. I wish you and your family a healthy and happy winter with those pillars of health to keep your whole family’s immune systems strong!
