Cold & Flu Prevention Tips & Review

I’ve decided that “Kindergarten” is just a cutesy name for a room full of walking, sneezing, nose picking germ factories.  Bethany has been in school less than 2 months and she has already had 3 (minor) colds!  At least we think it’s 3, who knows it might just be the same stinkin’ thing being passed around 3 times, what with all the “I need to pick up my friends in an awkward and strange way to say hello” going on (seriously, if I did that with my friends we’d all have hernias!).  I’d heard school was like this but I had no idea!

Like every other family we don’t appreciate the germs, the colds, the snot but unlike many other families it carries a more severe consequence around this house should other members of our family (Audrey) contract ANY kind of bacteria/virus, especially once she’s done her medication.  Our desperation to keep her out of the hospital has us in full-blown prevention mode, we’ve learned some great “Cold & Flu” fighting tips and in an effort to keep us all healthy I thought I’d share them with you.

- Wash your hands, properly: Did you know that even if you’re being diligent with hand washing you may not be doing it correctly.  To properly clean your hands you should use warm water and soap (of any variety), you need to wash for 20 seconds minimum, making sure to wash tops, palms, between fingers, fingernails and wrists and then make sure hand are completely dry (moisture breeds bacteria).

- Sanitize: When it’s not possible to wash your hands make sure to use hand sanitizer

- Sneeze/Cough into your elbow: We do everything with our hands, so it would make sense that coughing/sneezing into them would only allow for germ spreading.  Your inner elbow however does very little and poses a much small threat of spreading the germs.

- Eat well, Sleep well & Exercise: Like every other facet of life staying healthy hinges on the way you treat your body.  Eating healthy foods, drinking lots of water, sleep well & getting regular exercise gives your body the best chance at fighting off the germs.

- Echinacea: Sometimes, even when we’re doing our very best to stay healthy, the germs sneak past.  That’s when you turn to my (new) friend Echinacea!  It activates the cells of the immune system to help our bodies fight off colds, flues & infections while helping to relieve sore throats and other cold symptoms.

A few weeks ago we were given the opportunity to try the Swiss Natural Certified Organic Echinacea Purpurea and I jumped on it.  Finding supplements that I am able to take (with my corn allergy) is difficult, sometimes even impossible but not in the case of the Swiss Natural Echinacea!   Right on the label it says “No preservatives, sweeteners, dairy, corn, soy, gluten, wheat or yeast” and retailing at approximately $12.99, I said “YES!”

I got a chance to give my Echinacea a try last week when a sore throat and stuff nose started to show its face.  I took 3 capsules a day (directions say 3-5 per day up to 21 days), I found them a little bit “sticky” to swallow but completely flavour-less.  My sore throat seemed to vanish overnight and in a few days I was feeling like the cold was gone!

While I can’t say for sure it was the Echinacea that “cured” me, I do think it helped and these days I could use all the help I can get!