‘Tis the season for travel, family gatherings, and holiday festivities…and winter illnesses like the flu, common cold, COVID-19, norovirus, and RSV. Cold and flu season peaks in the fall and winter largely because more people are gathering indoors, but also because many viruses are more transmissible in cooler, drier weather. Most people recover from these illnesses quickly and without issue, while some go on to experience life-threatening complications or long-term health effects.
Long COVID, for instance, can cause menstrual and reproductive problems; cognitive changes; and issues with the kidneys, lungs, and heart — while respiratory infections like the flu are associated with an increased incident of heart attack infection. The norovirus (AKA the stomach flu or vomiting bug) is even shown to alter our gut bacteria, which can lead to dysbiosis, leaky gut, and a slew of complex chronic health conditions if we don’t take steps to rebalance the gut after infection.
Thankfully, preventative measures like handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, wearing a mask, social distancing, and staying home when sick can all help to prevent these and other illnesses. However, there are also several products (including travel-friendly nasal and throat sprays) that can be incorporated into each day to enhance our immunity throughout the holiday season and cold winter months. By doing so, we’ll reduce our risk of getting sick and ease our symptoms in the event that we do come down with a cold, flu, or any other common winter illness.
From vitamins and supplements to travel-friendly throat and nasal sprays, here are seven immunity-boosting products Dr. Fox and I can’t recommend enough during cold and flu season!
Bio Vegetarian™
Bio Vegetarian™ from Priority One is a product we can all benefit from during the cold and flu season. It’s packed with vitamins and herbs that support immunity and neutralize potential immunogens (antigens that trigger an immune response), thanks to ingredients like vitamins A, B6, and C; zinc; bioflavonoids; echinacea; barberry; and cayenne pepper. For general immune support, the recommended dosage is three tablets daily.
Get it here: Join Dr. Fox’s Fullscript Dispensary to receive 10 percent off orders and free shipping over $50.
Biocidin®TS Daily Herbal Throat Spray
Biocidin Botanicals is a brand we recommend again and again, especially when working with people battling persistent Lyme disease, digestive issues, mold biotoxin illness, and other complex chronic conditions. And during cold and flu season, we don’t hesitate to recommend Biocidin®TS: an easy-to-use throat spray that supports respiratory health with its proprietary blend of bilberry fruit extract, shiitake mushroom extract, goldenseal root, and other organic herbs. As a bonus, it’s easy to travel with during the holiday season or any other winter getaway.
For general immune support, the recommended dosage is three sprays as needed.
Get it here: Join Dr. Fox’s Fullscript Dispensary to receive 10 percent off orders and free shipping over $50.
Mycoshield® Peppermint Throat Spray
Medicinal mushrooms like turkey tail and reishi are famously known for their ability to support immunity, but this doesn’t mean you have to eat them if you’re not a fan of mushrooms. Or if you’re traveling during the holiday season and simply don’t have the time or space to prepare your favorite mushroom dishes! You can just as easily reap the immune-boosting benefits of fungi by supplementing with travel-friendly products like MycoShield® Peppermint Throat Spray.
Featuring a proprietary blend of organic mycelium extracts like agarikon, chaga, turkey tail, rad reishi, and birch polypore, this throat spray from Host Defense® will help keep you healthy during cold and flu season and freshen your breath thanks to the addition of certified organic peppermint oil! As a bonus, peppermint oil soothes sore throats and eases digestive distress associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — a condition that tends to flare up during the stressful, food-filled holiday season (these side dishes; however, should satisfy holiday cravings without upsetting sensitive stomachs).
For general immune support, the recommended dosage is three sprays, twice daily.
Get it here: Join Dr. Fox’s Fullscript Dispensary to receive 10 percent off orders and free shipping over $50.
Nasal Spray +
Now that we’ve discussed throat sprays, let’s talk about nasal sprays! As another great option for staying healthy while traveling during the holidays, Dr. Fox and I love Nasal Spray + from Beekeeper’s Naturals. It’s an herbal formula that cleanses and moisturizes the sinuses, clears congestion, relieves sinus pain and pressure, and supports immunity during the cold winter months. Featuring an herbal blend of sustainably sourced bee propolis, eucalyptus, oregano oil, and xylitol, Nasal Spray + is safe, effective, and easy to travel with during the holiday season or any other time of year.
For general immune support, the recommended dosage is two sprays per nostril.
Get it here: Join Dr. Fox’s Fullscript Dispensary to receive 10 percent off orders and free shipping over $50.
Silver Hydrosol™Argentyn 23® Pro
While silver hydrosol is a commonly used supplement in the complex chronic illness community, it also enhances immunity during cold and flu season. Silver Hydrosol™Argentyn 23® Pro is our preferred product, containing 99.999 percent pure silver and pharmaceutical-grade purified water. Plus, its small particle size of 0.8 nanometers is easily absorbed into the body and excreted out of the body.
For general immune support, the recommended dosage for adults is one teaspoon, held under the tongue for 30 seconds prior to swallowing.
Get it here: Join Dr. Fox’s Fullscript Dispensary to receive 10 percent off orders and free shipping over $50.
Vitamin D Supreme
Vitamin D is perhaps one of the most important nutrients when it comes to immunity, as vitamin D deficiency is associated with autoimmunity and increased susceptibility to infections like the flu, upper respiratory tract infections, HIV, and bacterial vaginosis. What’s more, a recent journal article associated vitamin D deficiency with long COVID — while a 2021 meta-analysis linked low levels of vitamin D with an increased risk of coronavirus infection and severity.
Though vitamin D deficiency is quite common among those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, this doesn’t mean we’re doomed just because we can’t get enough vitamin D from the sun alone! Dr. Fox and I recommend supplementing with Vitamin D Supreme by Designs for Health when blood levels are low; this is an exceptional product containing 5,000 international units (IUs) of vitamin D, 2,000 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin K, and 5 milligrams (mg) of trans geranylgeraniol.
That said, we’d like to point out that vitamin D testing should be completed before supplementing. This is super important, as vitamin D excess can be harmful and potentially even toxic in some cases. Be sure to test first and supplement only if vitamin D levels are insufficient.
For general immune support, the recommended dosage is one capsule daily with a meal.
Get it here: Join Dr. Fox’s Fullscript Dispensary to receive 10 percent off orders and free shipping over $50.
Zinc Lozenge
Like vitamin D, zinc is another vital nutrient that supports immunity and respiratory health. It also plays a role in thyroid health and autoimmunity, as low levels of zinc exacerbate many thyroid-related symptoms such as hair loss, depression, and brittle nails. But fortunately, supplementing with zinc can help to support the immune system during cold and flu season and simultaneously improve thyroid health. Zinc supports hormones and methylation as well, which is always a bonus!
We love Zinc Lozenge by Seeking Health, a vegan-friendly supplement containing 15 milligrams (mg) of zinc bisglycinate chelate. And because it melts in the mouth, Zinc Longenze is easy to take and it’s super gentle on digestion.
For general immune support, the recommended dosage is one capsule daily with food.
Get it here: Join Dr. Fox’s Fullscript Dispensary to receive 10 percent off orders and free shipping over $50.
Other Ways to Support Immunity During Cold and Flu Season
Along with considering our seven favorite products for winter immunity, things like exercising and eating well, keeping stress in check, and cooking with spices that support immunity (such as turmeric, cloves, and cardamom) can all help to keep you healthy this holiday season. We also recommend booking a call for the Vital Basics Method™ if you’d like personalized supplement recommendations to support immunity.
As part of the Vital Basics Method™, we offer 10 percent off practitioner-grade supplements and the opportunity to order lab tests that assess immune function, hormones, vitamins and minerals, and more.
We wish you a happy and healthy 2023 holiday season!
Looking for holiday gift ideas for yourself and your health-conscious loved ones? Ready to step up your wellness game in the new year? Check out our 2023 Gift Guide to find wellness-themed gift ideas for just about everyone on your holiday shopping list!
References:
- https://covid19.nih.gov/covid-19-topics/long-covid
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1702090
- https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2022/01/11/viruses-affect-gut-bacteria/
- https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/stay-healthy-during-holidays.html
- https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-018-2409-0
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166406/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34607398/
- https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/108/10/e1106/7116659
