(BPT) - Whether it's a hot drink of honey, lemon and brandy, or a steaming bowl of chicken soup, many families have age-old home remedies, passed down through the generations, that they still use today when winter kicks into high gear. Grandma knew a thing or two about soothing a sore throat, quieting a cough or settling a rumbling stomach without a trip to the pharmacy.
Many of those passed-down secrets originated in ancient times, and were implemented to boost the immune system to help fight off bugs before they took hold. While some of those age-old remedies are still in use today, there are some more modern ways to help support your health.
“Today, many of us rely on the convenience of vitamins and supplements to help support our immune systems, which is a beautiful thing,” says Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, and consultant to Swisse Wellness. “It’s much easier than making batches of soup from scratch and finding endless obscure herbs and remedies. However, it’s important to find high-quality supplements that have these immune boosting ingredients that are trending today.”
1. Honey. Honey has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians used it to treat skin and eye conditions, and added it to their beauty treatments, too. It was so revered that pots of honey have even been found in Egyptian tombs, unspoiled after thousands of years. Today, people tout honey as a superfood and natural remedy for many ailments. Honey is rich in vitamins B and C, and minerals like calcium, iron, zinc and more. Manuka honey, out of New Zealand, is getting a lot of attention lately for its super beneficial qualities. A great way to get it into your diet is with the Swisse Vitamin C + Manuka Honey supplement. It's a chewable antioxidant that makes it easy for you to give your body the benefits of this amazing honey without needing to keep little bear-shaped jars of the stuff lying around.
2. Echinacea. Grown in North America, echinacea, which comes from the coneflower, has been part of Native American traditional medicine for hundreds of years. Its use was passed on to pioneers and settlers, and became part of their traditional remedies, too. It has historically been reported to support the immune system, and today, we know echinacea to do the same. You can find it in liquid form, or in supplements. Swisse Immune Forte combines echinacea with elderflower, vitamin C and zinc for a powerful combination of immune-supporting effects.
3. Andrographis. Another key ingredient in Swisse’s Immune Forte, andrographis is a plant native to South Asian countries often used to make medicine. Andrographis is rich in compounds called andrographolides (hence the name), which are said to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
4. European elder. To round out Immune Forte, European elder, also known as Sambucus nigra, is expected to be a breakout trend this year. While it’s been around for a long time, it’s just becoming a popular ingredient for wellness enthusiasts. Boasting a wide range of benefits useful in winter months, European elder is another ancient ingredient that can still be helpful today.
Many of these ingredients still emulate names and descriptions that aren’t as common today, but are starting to break out in the approach to holistic wellness. We are lucky enough to have access to high-quality supplements that are easy to intake while still getting all the benefits of these incredible ingredients.
