Most of us only know Vitamin D as a choice in milk, but it’s actually a multi-purpose calcium absorber that helps form new bones, helps them grow, and prevents them from being brittle. Anyone who has raised children probably knows the basic benefits of Vitamin D from their pediatrician. With more of us staying inside and absorbing less Vitamin D than ever before, it’s going to become an even more valuable addition to a healthy parent’s arsenal. Even if you only have yourself to worry about, Vitamin D’s physical and mental benefits will come in handy. Here are 4 reasons why you should be supplementing with Vitamin D (and how to do it).   1.   Bone Strength Calcium promotes healthy bone growth and prevents them from getting brittle. If you’re at risk for osteoporosis or other bone density problems, calcium is the solution. But even if we consume calcium, we can’t use it without Vitamin D. With Vitamin D, our guts can absorb calcium and mineralize our bones. Especially for growing children, this is a huge reason that a regular source of Vitamin D is a dietary must-have. It’s also the most known reason to take it. Read on to learn about some of the hidden benefits.   2.   Immune Support Many of us are looking for ways to strengthen our immune systems for fear of infecting ourselves or our loved ones with COVID-19. Simultaneously, cold and flu season is upon us as well! Suffice it to say that anything that supports a healthy immune response is a welcome addition to our medicine cabinets. Vitamin D has been shown to prevent viral infections (COVID is one) and reduce the risk of respiratory infections like influenza.   3.   Mental Health A little-known benefit of Vitamin D is that it can help you fight depression. Neurologists have long since discovered a link between lacking Vitamin D and depression. Even though they’re not sure if the vitamin deficiency is a cause or a result of the mental health problems, Vitamin D supplementation remains an easy way for people dealing with depression to take a small step back towards normal function.   4.   Diabetes Prevention Not only can Vitamin D reduce inflammation, a major factor in prediabetes and diabetes, but it can also lower hypertension. Lacking Vitamin D has been shown to increase blood pressure and cause targeted damage to vulnerable organs. Combining calcium, Vitamin D, and sunlight has been shown to lower the user’s risk for type 2 diabetes, even while it lowers blood pressure.   How to take Vitamin D Vitamin D is not the most common mineral in modern diets. I usually have to go out of my way to get a good supply of it. Most people get it through whole milk and fortified cereals, but those may not be the healthiest options. The foods you want to look for are those that are rich in soluble, healthy fats. This is why fatty fish like [...]

If you’ve been reading health blogs or visiting your doctor, you know to fear the word “inflammation.” We now know that inflammation is a root cause of many of the modern world’s most lethal chronic conditions, from heart disease to cancer. Uncontrolled inflammation stresses you out, messes with your mood, makes it harder to absorb nutrients, and can lead to chronic pain. But did you know that an imbalanced gut is one of the major causes of inflammation? Our digestive system contains a lot of bacteria, many of which are good for us. They are the main source of our immune system support. They fight off bad bacteria and prevent major diseases. These good bacteria are called probiotics. If we don’t have enough, our bodies can become imbalanced, leading to oxidative stress, indigestion, and inflammation. Read on to learn 4 reasons why you should use probiotics (and how to get them).   1.   Digestive Balance The bacteria in your gut are in a state of balance when you’re healthy. But illness, bad diet choices, and antibiotics can throw it out of whack. The result? Anything from indigestion to full-blown mental disorders can result from having an imbalanced gut for a long time. You should consider taking probiotics to keep your “flora,” as it’s called, in balance.   2.   Heart Health Probiotics actually maintain your heart’s health as part of this balancing act. They’ve been known to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, making your body calmer as a result. If you have out-of-control LDL cholesterol levels (the “bad” kind), consider taking more probiotics as a precaution.   3.   Diarrhea Treatment Diarrhea is inconvenient, demeaning, and even painful. It disrupts your eating schedule and makes you feel a constant, low-grade level of sick. Often, diarrhea can be caused by antibiotics because of how they kill off the good bacteria in your digestive system. If you’re taking antibiotics now or have in the past, you should consider supplementing with a steady stream of probiotics to keep your systems in balance and prevent or treat diarrhea.   4.   Mental Health As I mentioned, an imbalanced gut can contribute to decreases in mental health. This works both ways. You can potentially improve the symptoms of mental health conditions by supplementing with probiotics. These conditions include depression, autism, anxiety, OCD, and even memory problems. By decreasing inflammation and balancing hormones, probiotics show great promise in the management of chronic mental health conditions.   How to Take Probiotics Probiotics can be taken as a supplement in pill form that you have to keep refrigerated. On the bottle, they will list the number of cultures and the types of bacteria present. It’s best to get a variety of types and to make sure it says “live and active cultures” on the bottle. However, many people prefer to take probiotics through food. I find that this is a more natural way to get your supply and easier to keep up throughout the year. Yogurt [...]

In this era, specifically during this pandemic, the world is burdened with a health crisis; many of us are working from home. Thanks to COVID, we stayed in, but no thanks, because it has almost reduced our physical activity by 34.5%. Overweight and obesity aren't something you should be dealing with right now; we all have our plates full. Well, before you move ahead to find out the vitamins for weight loss, it is imperative that you understand that vitamins are only an adjuvant treatment and not a substitute for a workout and diet. With the right amount of workout, combined with a diet recommended by your dietician and these vitamins, you will be summer-ready, and once the pandemic ends, you can flaunt your beach body! First off, it is essential to understand the biological mechanism of how weight gain occurs. Weight gain occurs when the metabolism of your body is slow when compared to the intake of calories. This thereby causes the body to store the food in the form of fat, which is then deposited under your skin in the form of adipose tissue, especially in the tummy region. A well-balanced diet that ensures controlled intake of food, as well as a dietary schedule that you could stick to religiously, would be the first steps on your weight loss journey. While on a diet, you would need safe and effective vitamin supplements that would provide the extra boost that your body requires. Continue reading to find out how exactly you could integrate vitamins in your weight loss journey.   What Are the Vitamins for Weight Loss? According to Arielle Levitan, MD, the author of the book The Vitamin Solution: Two Doctors Clear the Confusion About Vitamins and Your Health, "As part of a healthy living plan that includes clean eating, exercise, and stress management; vitamins and minerals also play a pivotal role in weight loss and weight management." You can use various vitamins that will enrich your metabolism and help you in your weight loss journey. The current pharma/medical market offers a wide range of supplements and vitamins that provide instant body fat burner capsules with herbal extracts and minerals. Hence, let us discuss in detail the benefits of each weight loss vitamin and how they can help you.   Vitamins that Burn Your Fat People always tend to turn their heads to the latest fad offered by the market. It could be anything from a fat burner to an appetite suppressant. As discussed earlier, most of these outweigh their benefits by causing potential harm to your body. Hence, we have curated the best vitamins that you need to consider for your weight loss when on a strict diet:   Vitamin C This vitamin helps you burn fat tissue stored via oxidation, thereby contributing to a faster metabolic rate. This vitamin facilitates the transfer of the fat molecules to the next step, which is the breakdown of molecules. When there is an adequate [...]

Essential oils provide health benefits that range from relieving the symptoms of chronic pain conditions to reducing anxiety. In order to reap their benefits, however, you have to know which oils help with stress relief, as well as how to use them. Particularly for people who spend more time at home these days, having essential oils on hand can be a godsend. They can’t cure the root cause of stress or slow down your busy week, but they can make you feel supported and strong. I use these 4 essential oils to give my mind the serenity it needs to handle the week calmly and professionally. Hopefully, you will too.   How to Use Essential Oils Essential oils require a little guidance, so before I get into the types I use, here’s a little advice on how to use them. In general, you can use essential oils in three ways: as aromatherapy, as a topical, or as an oral supplement. You may have seen diffusers at a spa or therapist’s office, those little machines that pump out soothing steam. They contain essential oils to give the room calming energy and you can use them in your house as well. As topicals, many essential oils cannot be applied directly to your skin. Most require the use of a carrier oil such as coconut or almond to dilute them. So, if you plan on massaging these oils into your skin for pain or stress relief, be sure to mix a few drops with a good helping of organic oil. Finally, if you plan on taking them internally, be sure to research which oils were made for this purpose. Many of them must be restricted to external use. Now that’s out of the way, let’s get into my 4 favorite essential oils for stress relief.   Lavender Lavender has been known for centuries for its relaxing properties and that’s no different in the modern age. Lavender can support and restore your nervous system by lowering your heart rate and blood pressure, calming your nerves, and giving you a sense of serenity. This is why lavender is often touted as a sleep aid. By mixing a few drops of lavender essential oil with almond oil and rubbing it into your wrist or the sides of your head, you can get a good night’s sleep or just calm down in the middle of a busy day.   Bergamot Bergamot is a citrus fruit bred by combining lemons and limes. It’s a favorite for Chinese herbalists because of its ability to support digestion, but it’s even been used as a mild antidepressant. This is because bergamot improves circulation and helps balance your hormones. This enhances your mood at the same time as it supports digestion. Bergamot essential oil produces feelings of joy as a result of that balance, which is why it’s a perfect aromatherapy treatment to freshen up your home and relieve stress.   Rose Rose essential oil can soothe [...]

During the busy workweek, getting the right vitamins and minerals from our diet involves knowing what our bodies need most, and shopping accordingly. If you’re like me, you’re only going to the store every 2-3 weeks to stay safer during the COVID pandemic. This means that knowing the vitamins your body needs should be part of your lockdown survival guide. Vitamin C is an essential vitamin because we don’t have any of it in our bodies naturally – we have to take it through food or supplements. You may be most familiar with it as the go-to vitamin for cold and flu prevention, but Vitamin C has a host of other benefits that will not only help you in the quarantine but will help protect you and your family from chronic illnesses down the road.   1.   Immune System Support Since this is the most well-known benefit of Vitamin C, I’m listing it first. Vitamin C boosts white blood cell production, which helps your body fight infection, a particularly tantalizing benefit during the pandemic. That’s not the vitamin’s only immune system function, however. Vitamin C also boosts your skin’s defense, which improves your healing time and makes your skin stronger through an effect similar to an antioxidant. Pneumonia is particularly susceptible to Vitamin C’s immune-boosting influence.   2.   Preventing Chronic Disease Vitamin C doesn’t just boost your immune system in the short-term. By preventing oxidative stress and removing free radicals from your body, Vitamin C can also shield your body from more serious chronic diseases. By raising the antioxidant levels in your blood, Vitamin C helps you fight inflammation, which we are quickly discovering is the root cause of most chronic illnesses. Metabolic syndromes like diabetes and chronic heart disease are linked to inflammation. Heart disease particularly involves a combination of high blood pressure, high bad cholesterol, low good cholesterol, and out-of-control inflammation. Vitamin C is one way to get back in control.   3.   Prevent Iron Deficiencies Iron is a mineral that gives us strength. It does this by helping our bodies transport oxygen to the parts that need it by supporting healthy red blood cell counts. Iron is a well-known benefit of eating leafy vegetables. Many of us are making the sacrifice to get our daily allotment without realizing that Vitamin C is what makes it all worth it. Iron is difficult for our bodies to absorb, which is why Vitamin C, which converts plant-based iron sources into more absorbable forms, is so essential. Healthy iron levels have been linked to lower instances of anemia, which is only possible if you have enough Vitamin C built up to help you absorb it.   4.   Mental Health Our mental health becomes more important as we age, as our risk for related memory and personality disorders increases naturally. The same oxidative stress and inflammation that can weaken our immunity can also reduce our memory and mental performance. If it occurs near the brain or spine, [...]

Winding down for the night makes falling asleep so much better. If you hop in bed still energized from the day, stressed out, or tense, it can be hard to get a sound sleep, which we all so desperately need. I make sure to relax and decompress before bedtime, as I need my sleep to be fully functional and on my toes for every tomorrow. Not to mention, the benefits of a good night’s sleep keep me healthy, looking youthful, and feeling focused. Follow these tips each evening to ensure your slumber is beyond sufficient. You’ll drift off into dreamland with a clear mind, weight lifted off your shoulders, and a soothed spirit.   Sip Some Tea Every night, at some point post-dinner, hot tea is the perfect “nightcap” for getting in a mellow mood. Choose a decaf variety, such as chamomile, or any flavor you enjoy in the decaf version. Add a little warm milk and a touch of honey or agave if you want something slightly sweet. Settle into your comfy chair and sip in silence. Enjoy the aroma and flavor, and feel the warmth run through your body. Tea is delicious and stress-relieving, and once you’re done with your cup, you won’t be tempted to indulge in a midnight snack. You’ll be too busy sleeping anyhow.   Tie Up Loose Ends Whether it is work related, a personal matter, something for the kids, or another to-do, get as much done as you can well before bedtime. When you’re preoccupied worrying about finishing a task or resolving a matter, your mind will spin as you lie awake well into the wee hours of the night. If there’s no possibility to tie up loose ends for the evening, jot down what you’ll need to do the next day so it’s off your mind with a plan of action you can tend to tomorrow. You will feel relieved and ready to handle your situation after a solid night’s sleep.   Go Low-Tech What would we do without all our gadgets and gear? We are nearly hooked on our smartphones, tablets, and laptops, but the evening calls for a no-frills, tech-free(ish) experience. About two hours before bedtime, check your last emails for the day, text back your friends and family, and finish your favorite TV show. Scroll through social media for one final look for the night and set your tech items aside. Of course, keep your phone handy in case of emergency, but don’t grab it just because. The lights from these gizmos interrupt our natural rhythms which can affect the quality of sleep. Plus, all the stimulation will keep you awake and interested. Rather than going high-tech, consider listening to some soft music, meditating, or reading a book.   Take A Hot Bath There is nothing like soaking in a steamy tub filled with fragrant bubbles to soften your skin. Find some “me time” to enjoy the opportunity to give your body the pampering [...]

The cold and flu season is upon us, which means that at any moment your already busy week can become completely overwhelming. The sniffles aren’t even the worst of it. The worst part is when you can’t get everything done because you’re not feeling up to it. Your work gets put on hold, your family gets sick too, and your diet plans become your last priority. So much of your weekly balancing act hinges on a properly functioning immune system. Many of us have been told to drink orange juice and tea when it comes to preventing sickness. But in the realm of vitamin supplements, Zinc is the immune system superstar. Knowing what Zinc does for you and how you can get your daily allowance can be useful information year-round. During cold and flu season, it’s your survival guide.   Why Do We Need Zinc? Zinc is an essential nutrient – our body both needs it and doesn’t produce it, which means we have to get it from our diet. Many processes – from wound healing, immune function, and growth – are fueled by Zinc. This is why it’s become a major synthetic mineral, fortified into cereals and snacks so people get enough. It’s an abundant trace mineral, has a hand in most metabolic and nerve reactions in our bodies, and supports our immune cells too. If you’re truly Zinc-deficient, you even start to lose your taste and smell: that’s how important it is. Here are some specific, noticeable health benefits you can get from supplementing with Zinc.   1.     Immune System Function This is why we’re all here. Zinc plays a huge role in immune cell function, which means that supplementing with it can help those cells do their job. This reduces oxidative stress, which reduces your risk for everything from the common cold to infections. With cell growth and division in healthy overdrive, your body can build up ironclad defenses against the flu season.   2.     Age-Related Conditions As we get older and our systems weaken, we become susceptible to a host of conditions. Pneumonia and various infections can be deadly if your body can’t fight them, which is why Zinc becomes even more important as you age. The improved immune response provided by a healthy dose of Zinc encourages the production of “T-cells,” which are your body’s little soldiers against the impending forces of infection. It’s so effective at boosting your activity that people have even reported improved vision and mental performance when taking Zinc daily.   3.     Inflammation Response One of the reasons that Zinc improves not only your defense against sickness but the symptoms as well is that it decreases inflammation by reducing oxidative stress. This affects your whole body, reducing your risk for heart disease, cancer, and age-related mental conditions. While this doesn’t reflect a direct impact on immune health, it does make us healthier, which is why we’re all here.   4.     Improved Healing Zinc helps us produce [...]

Sore throats are the worst, especially for kids (and the busy parents of said kids). It’s not only uncomfortable, but it makes eating and sleeping difficult too, which makes everything worse. Sore throats are actually our body’s immune systems doing us a favor, sending inflammation to areas that are targeted by viral infections. But that doesn’t stop it from being a pain in the neck. While your body tries to figure out what to do with your infection, you should try to figure out what to do with your body. Try these 4 natural remedies for a sore throat to soothe yourself or your family during the inevitable colds that come with the winter dry spells.   1.   Honey Honey may be the most readily available and widely known treatment for a sore throat. Your mom was probably always ready with honey and tea when you got sick. Even if she didn’t know the science behind it, your mom knew what she was doing. Honey has all kinds of effects beneficial to throat soreness, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant benefits. This means that this golden goo, made of flower dust and bee spit, can give you soothing pain relief in your throat at the same time it fights the infection that gave you the soreness in the first place. Very rarely can you find a substance that works to control both the symptoms and the disease, but honey is a special case. Research the kinds of honey that are out there to maximize its benefits.   2.   Apple Cider Vinegar    Apple cider vinegar is known throughout the world as an enemy of bacteria. Even the ancient Greeks mixed it with (you guessed it) honey, to treat the flu and cure a cough. Even today, apple cider vinegar is a great soldier in the battle against throat soreness, even though many people now think of it purely as a weight loss supplement. The worst thing about apple cider vinegar, of course, is the acidic taste, which can hurt your teeth as well if you’re not careful. This is why the antibacterial benefits of apple cider vinegar are only really worth it if you mix it with something. Dilute the vinegar with warm water or juice and add some honey to make it more palatable.   3.   Marshmallow Root Marshmallow root has a cute name, but doesn’t look much like its fluffy, sugary namesake. You can buy it whole for the most intense effects and turn it into a supplement by soaking it in a cheesecloth. However, most of us know marshmallow root as an ingredient in pre-made herbal teas, often called “throat coat” teas. The name comes from marshmallow root’s ability to soothe your throat and provide a protective, lubricating layer that fights throat inflammation. These teas can provide a great emergency throat soother that’s easy to store in the pantry for when you need it.   4.   Saltwater When we were growing up, a lot [...]

The weather is changing, which people with sensitive noses know is the sign of cold and flu season coming up. People with busy workweeks know how a cold can make their lives difficult. Those of you with kids dread the thought of sick days home from school where everyone’s schedule gets thrown off and nothing gets done. If you feel a cough coming on or you already have one, you may be on medications to get rid of it. But you can only take those so often. These 5 natural remedies to help with a cough are far more pleasant than cough syrup and help your body rehydrate and fight inflammation as well as treat your cough. Use these natural remedies strategically to avoid coughs from yourself or to give sick kids a natural and pleasant way to take their “medicine.”   1.   Increased fluid intake Fluids are your body’s army against invading cold and flu germs. If you have a cough, room temperature fluids (and lots of them) can help with throat soreness and calm down your cough. Many people have found that hot beverages are even more soothing than room temperature ones. Water, herbal teas, and broths are traditional remedies that work wonders to give you the fluids you need. Even fruit juice tastes better warmed up, especially for kids who don’t like warm broth.   2.   Tea with honey Honey, especially dark, raw honey, is a miracle substance when it comes to relieving coughs, often outperforming over-the-counter cough-suppressants. The taste factor is a bonus. My go-to cough remedy is a cup of warm marshmallow root tea with honey. The honey tastes great and reduces cough-related inflammation while the marshmallow coats your throat to help you feel less sore.   3.   Ginger Ginger is well-known as a powerful natural anti-inflammatory. Coughs cause all kinds of inflammation and ginger helps your throat relax, especially if the cough is dry. If you’ve got flu-related nausea or pain, ginger can help settle your stomach too. The best way to take ginger is naturally. Buy some whole root, thinly slice about an inch of it, and drop it into boiling water for about 5 minutes. Get some honey and lemon in there too for added effects.   4.   Peppermint Menthol is the ingredient in peppermint that gives it a cooling sensation. It also reduces inflammation in your throat when you’ve been coughing, which not only relieves some pain but also reduces your urge to continue coughing. Peppermint also has antibacterial, antiviral, and decongestive properties, so it’s got a lot going for it. Peppermint lozenges or teas could be a big help when you’re coming down with a cough and peppermint essential oil also makes for great decongesting aromatherapy, if you’re into that.   5.   Pineapple Pineapple isn’t on everyone’s list of must-buys for cold and flu relief, but it should be up there with orange juice, especially for coughs. That’s because pineapple is packed with bromelain, which [...]

Whenever you experience back pain, even doing something as natural as sleeping becomes a daunting task. You cannot even concentrate on work, but are there things at your disposal that could help ease the pain at home? Let’s find out. Back pain is mostly accompanied by a hustle and tassel of finding the right position to sit or sleep. And this short-lived comfort does not last for too long as you might need to get a few things done.   Causes of Backache Muscle and ligament in the back getting tensed and strained - mild ache Dislocation of the disks - severe to excruciating ache Arthritis - mild to severe Spine injury - severe to unbearable agony Osteoporosis - the weakening of the vertebrae bones that starts mild and worsens after   This list shows that there are different degrees of back pain, and each has its best remedy. For instance, a comparison of aches from back pain versus arthritis may differ in the ache’s source and intensity. If discomfort persists even after trying the following, consult a doctor who will assess the basis of your backache. Below are back pain help home remedies that you can carry out on your own.   Exercise This is ideally the first thing that you can do at home to keep back pain at bay. If you have confirmed that the aching sources from strain, back pain relief exercises may be your best home remedy. You should always start small with manageable stretches, and advance to complicated yoga poses if you wish.   Dietary Supplements If your back pain roots from dietary deficiencies that may cause your spinal bones to become weak, then calcium, potassium, and collagen supplements are known as the best keto friendly protein powder that may come in handy. These substances will help keep your backbone healthy and wade off the agony. Collagen is incredibly beneficial in keeping the spinal cord intact and in place. Dietary supplementation also entails adding more foods high in these same nutrients in your daily meal plan.   Good Sitting Posture The simple act of sitting right could improve your back aches immensely. It would help if you sat in a manner that your spine is perpendicular to the ground and not in a slouching form. If you spend most of your day sitting, make sure your seat has good back support and periodically take random walks to stretch.   Back Massages Stress coming from daily hustles may result in your backaches, and a good old massage session might do the trick. A back pain massage is best done using oil while you are lying flat on your tummy. The person giving the massage must be gentle and work the way up and down your spine, slowly massaging all the disks into place.   Pain Killers If the pain is too hard for you to handle, painkillers may help. But you have to realize that painkillers do not solve any [...]

Our skin is the largest organ in our body. It absorbs and reacts to everything; from the amount of sun we get to the food we eat. A healthy diet is paramount to healthy skin. But what works one week to keep it looking clear, clean, and young may not work the next week. This is bad news for busybodies and working parents. Even if you don’t have time to experiment, however, don’t worry! You’ve come to the right place. Rather than splurge on expensive artificial products with laundry lists of ingredients and uncertain effects, you should invest in your skin’s health for the long term. That means understanding the fundamentals of healthy skin and how a healthy diet and all-natural supplements are the only “secret” to looking young you’ll ever need. The anti-aging products industry is one of the most profitable in the world. They would pay for you to not read about these great all-natural supplements for great skin year-round.   1.   Vitamin A There are three basic principles to maintaining healthy skin: less oil, less inflammation, and more moisture. Vitamin A is best known for the first thing. Oil produced by our glands can cause dead skin cells to build up, block our pores, and cause all kinds of ugly breakouts. Vitamin A reduces the size of those glands to keep our natural oils at a manageable level. This makes Vitamin A – both as a topical treatment and oral supplement – the first line of defense against acne. Vitamin A promotes healthy collagen and even reduces skin inflammation related to breakouts.   How to Take Vitamin A Vitamin A is fat-soluble. This means that your body can store it, which is good for retention but bad for those at risk for overdoses. It can build up to toxic levels if you don’t dose it properly. Thankfully, so long as you get it naturally, you don’t have to worry. Foods rich in Vitamin A include dairy products and meat. Foods like carrots and tomatoes contain beta-carotene, which becomes Vitamin A when you consume it, so a few well-rounded meals a week should maintain your body’s healthy supply. In a pinch, an oral supplement could work too. Just remember that dosing is important. It’s best to consult a doctor before starting a new supplement.   2.   Collagen Collagen is already in our skin. It’s the protein that makes skin elastic, which is shorthand in the skin health community for “looking young.” Collagen is the basis for all anti-aging products, so getting it naturally and purely should have an even more pronounced effect. Our collagen levels naturally shrink as we get older, so supplementation can stop the clock for a while.   How to Take Collagen Edible animal skin, such as from fish and chicken, contains a lot of collagen. Bone broth and gelatin also contain the same protein compounds. However, powder, pill, and liquid collagen supplements may be easier to take to boost [...]

We all love it when the weather starts changing and the mornings gradually get cooler. But colder temperatures mean that cold and flu season is coming up, which can be a huge problem for people who are susceptible to colds, work around a lot of people, or have kids at home. Colds can spread fast and make everyone miserable. If you ask a doctor (or a mom), the first thing they’ll tell you is: drink more fluids. This is good advice, but which fluids are best? Warm teas not only provide medicinal relief when you choose the right herbs, but the warmth soothes your throat, and additives like honey and lemon can help suppress your cough. If you take advantage of the best teas out there for cold and flu relief, you can speed up your recovery and enjoy a fresh herbal remedy at the same time.   1.   Peppermint Peppermint’s distinct cooling sensation comes from menthol, which makes a great cough suppressant. Just breathing the steam off a cup of peppermint tea can relieve congested sinuses. Drinking it can lower inflammation and pain in your whole body. If that wasn’t enough, peppermint has even been studied by major drug organizations for its antiviral and antimicrobial properties. It’s the multipurpose cold and flu-fighting tea that no pantry should be without as we approach the winter months.   2.   Echinacea You may know echinacea more as an immune-boosting supplement than as a tea, but this herb is notorious for its ability to shorten a cold or flu. If you feel an illness coming on and don’t need specific decongestive effects (yet), echinacea tea might even be able to prevent the cold altogether by boosting your immune response. It works as a light anti-inflammatory supplement as well. Herbal teas often mix lemon or mint with the echinacea for an even tastier immune-boosting beverage to warm you up during flu season.   3.   Stinging Nettle Stinging Nettle is an ancient remedy for the flu due to its ability to boost your immune system with Vitamin C and carotene. Don’t let its aggressive name turn you off: it’s packed with antioxidants and helps you fight the systemic inflammation that results naturally from being sick. Those who already have chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis may have heard of nettle tea before, but not in the context of getting over a nasty cold. As a tea, it can do a lot of good.   4.   Ginger Ginger is a well-known herbal remedy and it’s a cold germ’s worst nightmare. It can both prevent colds from coming on and soothe one you already have by reducing inflammation in your throat, reducing congestion, and even clearing up bacterial and viral issues related to your sickness as well. Ginger is a powerful antioxidant and tests higher for antibacterial effects than some prescription antibiotics. With a little lemon, it makes a perfect tea to weather a winter cold.   5.   Chamomile Chamomile tea doesn’t have [...]