Tips for Healthy Traveling

Do you have plans to travel sometime this fall/winter season?  The strong threat of sickness has been weighing on all of our minds, I'm sure.  Some things in this life are completely out of our control, but here are a few things that we've found to be helpful in the task of boosting immunity.

1) Vitamins, Vitamins, Vitamins! It may sound redundant, but Vitamin C and Vitamin D are super important for optimal health, especially when fighting off invaders!  These should be a part of our daily routine in the cold season, but especially the week before your traveling plans and all throughout a trip.  NSP's Chewable Vitamin C is easy to digest, delicious and great for adults and kids alike. Vitamin D is best consumed by going outside every day, but especially as it gets colder that's not always possible.  In those cases, here are a couple of options.  For kids, consider Calcium Plus D3.  For adults (or kids who can swallow pills), there's also a Calcium Plus D, but for extra protection Vitamin D3 is highly recommended.

2) Don't forget to SLEEP! When preparing for a trip and certainly on a trip, adequate sleep often gets the boot.  If you're trying to avoid illness, losing sleep is the worst thing you can do!  Sleeping helps the body fight infections and can determine how fast you recover if you do get sick. If you struggle with sleep or expect some stress surrounding your trip that might affect your sleep, here are a few supplements to consider:

• Valerian Root - This single herb helps with relaxation and supports sleep.
• STRESS-J - This herbal formula promotes feelings of calm and helps with occasional stress. A racing brain or overstimulated body can certainly prevent sleep.  STRESS-J can help with that!
• 5-HTP Power - Drinking a lot of caffeine? Caffeine wipes out serotonin and can definitely disrupt sleep patterns.  Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an important neurotransmitter that is converted into serotonin in the body. Improve your appetite, mood and sleep!
• Melatonin Extra - Melatonin encourages restful sleep and helps fight jet lag by promoting the body's natural sleep rhythm.

3) Elderberry - The health benefits of elderberries are powerful! Anytime you expect to be or fear you were exposed to something contagious (cold, virus, flu, etc.) we recommend Elderberry D3fense or Elderberry Immune (chewables for the kids).  It's a power punch to whatever is lurking in the air!  

4) Silver Shield Liquid/Gel - NSP's Silver Shield is a wonderful safe and effective product that reduces exposure to disease-causing agents while leaving the good bacteria in tact.  Taken internally before and after a plane ride would be a smart line of defense.  The Silver Shield Gel takes immune boosting to another level! This gel can be safely place in any opening of the body so in or around the nose would be great protection from airborne invaders.  It also works as a great hand sanitizer! Both are great for kids too.

Also, Essential Shield  is a terrific topical essential oil blend that contains pure essential oils of clove, cinnamon, thyme, eucalyptus, grapefruit, lavender, rosemary, lemon, pine and peppermint that could be used to keep the air around you (in a car, hotel room, or even an airplane!) boosted with proactive forces!

5) Clean, Colorful Eating.  Whatever goes into your body either adds or takes away from the health of your immune system.  The cleaner and more colorful your diet is, the better position you are in to fight off colds and viruses. Plan ahead.  Just because you're on/going on vacation doesn't mean you have to eat junk!

Most trips aren't worth getting sick over so do yourself some favors as travel season starts to pick up!

Children's Flu Season Guide

How to Protect Your Immune System this Winter

How to Protect Your Immune System this Winter

When we think of winter weather (which we in Oklahoma just received a healthy dose of) we pretty quickly think of sickness, don't we?  Cold, flu, bronchitis and other germs going around and around.  And, in so many cases,  it just goes with the territory - especially those that work with children, such as teachers and child care workers.  There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution to ensure that you will never get sick.  However, there are a few things that, when addressed together with moderation and balance, have been known to decrease the number of illnesses and lighten the severity when illnesses do occur.  There are definitely some great products that are absolutely necessary to have on hand this time of year, but there is certainly more to it than just popping a few pills.

1) Sleep:  No matter your station in life, this is a busy time and we seem to find more ways to push the limitations of our body.  But without enough sleep, everything in your body has to work harder.  And the harder it is working, the more likely it can be taken over by invaders!  Get enough sleep!

2) Green Diet: Include a lot of green vegetables in your diet.  You know there will be a lot of less-than-health-conscious (although delicious) meals consumed over the next few weeks.  If you have the desire and willpower to abstain - awesome!  For the rest of us who are looking forward to some splurges, drown them with green! An easy way to build up your 'armor' is a great smoothie - any time of the day.  Spinach and Kale (frozen or fresh) make a great base that does not change the flavor of fruit or juice at all!

3) MOVE: It's easy to think you don't have time or it won't make much of a difference anyway, but that kind of thinking is just wrong.  Even just 10-15 minutes of dancing in the living room that gets your heart pounding and a little sweat brewing can better prepare you for all the invaders attacking you throughout the day.  Your lymphatic system's only pump is your exercise and a lazy lymph system is a breeding ground for virus and bacterias.

4) Silver Shield: If there is one thing you should bother to take when you are likely to be exposed to the invaders (germs), it is NSP's Silver Shield.  Silver Shield 'has been proven to effectively combat health issues caused by anthrax, yeast, food poisoning, fungal or bacterial infections of the skin, respiratory infections, pink eye and more.' It is non-toxic with no risk of heavy metal contamination, guaranteed pure and takes care of viral and bacterial issues without harming the good bacteria of the gut.

For more information check out these links:

Colloidal Silver Benefits from Silver Shield

Why You Can Trust Silver Shield from Nature's Sunshine

And now through Sunday, December 15th Silver Shield Liquid and Gel are both $2 off!  If you buy in greater quantities, you receive even more savings.  So, it's a great time to stock up!  And for a limited time - throughout the month of December:

Above all else, be good to your body in all areas.  When we neglect, overuse and ignore the needs of our body, illness will undoubtedly follow.

A Great Cold & Flu Remedy

Natural homeopathic medicine in quick-dissolving lozenges!

Just as the seasons change to fall and winter, the flu season begins while our bodies go into immune-battle mode to fight germs and stay healthy. Almost invariably we begin searching for the best cold and flu remedies as many of us catch a cold and experience sore throat, stuffy nose and coughing.


Minimize your cold and flu “down time” with Zinc Cold & Flu lozenges. The mineral zinc is an effective cold and flu treatment because it boosts the immune system. It also coats the mouth and throat, preventing some germs from taking up residence there. When unwanted invaders can’t get a strong foothold in the mouth or throat, they often struggle to proliferate, and you come off conqueror.


Zinc Cold & Flu homeopathic lozenges feature zinc gluconate and zinc acetate (2x). They dissolve quickly and are easy for children to take. For best results, use at the first signs of cold and flu symptoms to help reduce duration, severity and minor discomfort of cold symptoms.