Feel the Sniffles Approaching? Zap Them with Zinc!

Beat the cold bug and support your immune system with Webber Naturals!

It's raining and the daily temperature highs are dropping. Now this feels like fall! I love almost everything about this season: the colours of the leaves, wooly socks, the smells and sounds of crackling wood fires, pumpkin pie! But the one thing I do not love about autumn is the rise and spread of that nasty, common cold!

There may be no cure but I think I've got a few tricks up my sleeve that have always helped me keep that cold at bay...or at least very minor!

Usually the day before I catch a cold, I am sneezing. I'll wake up with a scratchy throat and sneeze all day long. That tickle in my nose just won't go away. When this happens, I immediately reach for my echinacea to give my immune system that extra boost. I bundle up with those wooly socks and wrap a fleece scarf around my neck while I enjoy a hot drink of chamomile with lemon and honey (sometimes ginger). I also try aim for an early night.

But there's more to cold prevention than echinacea. Another key ingredient in the recipe to fighting colds is zinc! Zinc is a mineral that can help boost the immune system and has been shown in studies to help reduce the severity and duration of a cold. You can get your zinc through your diet by eating foods such as oysters, roast beef, pumpkin and squash seeds, toasted wheat germ and peanuts. If you're not a fan of oysters (approx. 25 mg of zinc in every 100 grams) or find that you don't eat many of the zinc-rich foods, you can try zinc supplements (always check with a doctor first). 

So if you feel that sore throat coming along try our Sunkist Zinc Throat Lozenges and give your immune system extra strength. It may not be a cure but I'll take whatever armour I can get in the battle between the body and the cold germ!

Want to know more about the supplements that keep you healthy during the chilly months? Check out our Immune Support products and get tips from naturopathic doctor and Webber Naturals expert, Quinn Hand and her post, Stocking the Medicine Cabinet!

Stay healthy and heed your sneezes! Don't let the cold bug get the better of you!

Image source: labyellow.org,

Sometimes you need a little extra help keeping you and your kids healthy. Webber Naturals expert Quinn Hand gives us the scoop...

No matter how many preventive measures we take, that cold virus can catch you by surprise!

You may feed your kids nutritious foods, get them playing outdoors, maintain a healthy schedule with good night's sleeps, and have them washing their wands, but sometime they simply get sick. So, here are a few things to keep on hand and tricks to fight infection:

Vitamin C

A potent antioxidant, vitamin C helps support the immune system. As a water-soluble vitamin, our bodies don’t store it. So where do we get it from? Our foods. But in times of viral assault, higher dosages can be used to fight off infection. Anywhere from 1000mg to 6000mg in divided doses throughout the day can be beneficial when taken at the first sight of cold or flu symptoms.

Zinc

Zinc is a mineral that is part of our immune system, incorporating into something called “zinc fingers”, which help fight infection. It also increases our white blood cells to fight infection. When taken within 24 hours of the onset of cold or flu symptoms, zinc can reduce symptom severity.

Probiotics

Probiotics are good bacteria that naturally colonize our bodies, particularly in the digestive tract. However, they can also peripherally colonize our nasal mucosa, helping protect against cold and flu. Additionally, they improve gut health, which is where much of our immune system resides, and increase certain immune fighting cells. In the event of antibiotic treatment, probiotics are critical to repopulate the digestive tract and stop the overgrowth of harmful bacteria.

Echinacea

This popular herb is a great antimicrobial, boosting the production of white blood cells and interferon (an antiviral molecule). When taken early enough and in the right dosage, Echinacea can lessen the duration and severity of a cold.

Oregano oil

This oil has been traditionally used as a broad spectrum antimicrobial and shows great benefits against cold and flu. Oregano oil is also highly antioxidant. Using about 4 drops, held under the tongue for a few minutes prior to swallowing can be a great tool against that annoying common cold and sore throat.

Wool and cotton socks

Yes, I said socks! This is a traditional hydrotherapy (water therapy) technique that acts as a lymphatic pump to reduce congestion and stimulate the immune system via the movement of lymph through the lymph glands where antibodies reside. Using thin cotton socks, run them under cold water until saturated. Then wring well, ensuring no excess amounts of water. Put them on your feet, then cover with wool socks (at least 80%). Do this right before bedtime and keep them on while you sleep. When you or your child wakes in the morning, the sock should be dry and you should feel better. I use this the minute I start to feel sick and often avoid falling ill!

As the World Health Organization (WHO) says, "Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." So, try to keep these aspects in balance and your child should be on their way to a healthy school year!

Image Sources: stayathomemother.com and womansday.com

Webber Naturals' expert Kristin Metvedt shares a favourite salad recipe...

Add some apples and PGX and you've got a perfect healthy and leafy fall recipe!

Now that fall has arrived, apples are being harvested! What does that mean? It’s time to enjoy the many varieties of juicy apples that await you in the grocery store bins. Fresh crisp apples are packed with flavor, high in water, contain zero fat and provide the nutritional benefits of soluble fibre, vitamin C, potassium and phytosterols. Apples have a low Glycemic Index rating of 40, which makes an apple the perfect choice for a quick mid-day or evening snack. Here is a seasonal, sweet and tangy salad recipe that includes 1 raw apple and apple cider vinegar.

Spinach Salad with Apple-Maple Dressing

¼ cup sunflower or canola oil

2 Tbsp Maple syrup

2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (Eden Organic or Spectrum Foods brands make naturally fermented ACV products)

1 Tbsp course mustard seed

Pinch of sea salt

Fresh ground pepper

1 chopped fresh apple (Gold & Delicious, Empire, Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady or Ambrosia are good for salads)

Washed and spun dry baby spinach leaves

Try adding some of these protein options:

1 hard boiled egg, chopped and crumbled

¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (slightly toasted adds a nice flavor)

1 tbsp crumbled Blue cheese or shredded cheese

Bacon bits (if you like bacon, go ahead and add that extra, smokey crunch!)

Method:

Place clean spinach leaves into a salad bowl. Drizzle the dressing onto the salad one tablespoon at a time and toss to coat the leaves (you may not need all the dressing). Add your protein ingredients and toss again. Plate the salad and then add the chopped apple pieces (so they don’t get lost in the bottom of the bowl).

If you've got a sweet tooth, try adding some dried cranberries or even strawberries!

For an even bigger health kick, PGX Daily Singles (2.5g of PGX) can be sprinkled onto your plate of salad.

Image sources: Nom & Glug and My Journey to Happiness