3‌ ‌Elderberry‌ ‌Supplements‌ ‌for‌ ‌Crowded‌ ‌ Holiday‌ ‌Gatherings‌

elderberry-supplements-holiday

This is a time where it is easier to catch and spread any number of illnesses. The risk of catching and spreading illnesses is already higher in the winter. It increases even more when you consider all of the family and parties for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Years.

No matter where you are, from the office to the home, we’re all at a higher risk of catching or spreading sicknesses.

For those reasons, a healthy, functioning immune system during the winter months and the holiday season is more important than ever. One of the best-known herbal remedies to support your immune system naturally is elderberry.

What is Elderberry?

Elderberry is a purple berry that grows on the black elderberry tree, and it has been used for hundreds of years in folk medicine to support immune system health.

While elderberry has been used in natural and folk medicine for many reasons, modern research has found some potential effectiveness for reducing cold symptoms and the duration of illness in those who get sick while traveling internationally.

A 2016 study in the journal Nutrients looked at the physical, respiratory, and mental health effects of elderberry extract on the health of air travelers flying internationally. The study found that those who took elderberry extract had significantly fewer cold symptoms compared to the placebo group, and cold episodes were significantly shorter than those who did not take elderberry extract.

While more research is needed, initial studies like these indicate that elderberry is indeed a promising natural tool in decreasing both the severity and duration of cold symptoms.

Whether it’s for a crowded holiday gathering, for extra immune support during the cold winter months, or just for ongoing immune support throughout the year, elderberry supplements may aid the immune system.

Here are three elderberry supplements for crowded holiday gatherings (and beyond) from Terry Naturally, Nutritional Frontiers, and Source Naturals.

3 Elderberry Supplements for Crowded Holiday Gatherings

ViraPro Elderberry Immune Blend – Terry Naturally

ViraPro Elderberry Immune Blend from Terry Naturally harnesses the power of sambuca and provides key immune vitamins and minerals well known for their effectiveness, such as freeze-dried, standardized elderberry, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D3, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. ViraPro Elderberry Immune Blend provides powerful immune support during the holiday season, cold and flu season, year-round, and whenever you need it most.

ImmunoMax Chewables Elderberry – Nutritional Frontiers

ImmunoMax Chewables Elderberry from Nutritional Frontiers uses a patented, synergistic blend of ingredients to support healthy immune system functioning. The ImmunoMax Chewables Elderberry blend is formulated especially for those with a weakened immune system. That’s why it uses two patented ingredients: Dimethylglycine (DMG) that is believed to work by promoting resistance to invading microorganisms and antibody production, and arabinogalactan, a tree extract that supports immune cell production. Along with DMG and arabinogalactan, ImmunoMax Chewables Elderberry contains other ingredients that support immune system function, such as maitake D-fraction powder and beta 1,3-glucans.

Wellness Herbal Resistance Liquid Alcohol Free – Source Naturals

Wellness Herbal Resistance Liquid Alcohol Free from Source Naturals contains a powerful combination of herbs designed to help support your immune system. These herbs include elderberry flower, elderberry fruit, ginger root, Cinnamomum bark, Isatis root, and bayberry bark. Along with these herbs, Wellness Herbal Resistance Liquid contains echinacea and coptis to support a sense of wellbeing, and Yin Chiao to aid a sense of balance.

What elderberry supplements do you turn to during the cold and flu season?

Probiotics for Kids

probiotics for kids

Learn about probiotics for kids.

As a parent or guardian, you do your best to ensure your child eats well and nourishes their body. Hopefully you do the same for yourself with supplements and probiotics. If so, you’ve probably wondered how probiotics may play a role in your child’s health.

If you tune in to medical research or natural health blogs, you’ve likely heard the gut described as the “second brain” of the body. For years we’ve thought of our digestive system as only in charge of processing our food and sending nutrients where they need to go before sending waste out the other end. However, science is now aware that this was never the whole story. In fact, your gut produces many of the same neurotransmitters as your brain such as dopamine and serotonin.

If you’ve ever thought about using probiotics for kids to support your family’s health, this article can help point you in the right direction.

What are Probiotics?

You may already have a handle on this, but just in case you need a refresher, let’s talk about Probiotics. Probiotics are supplements that contain “good” bacteria designed to support balance in the gut. Prebiotics may also be seen in probiotic supplements, because they provide a healthier gut environment for the good bacteria, allowing them to do their job more effectively.

The gut (or gastrointestinal tract) is home to a microbiome of both “good” and “bad” bacteria. When the “bad” bacteria are in charge, it can cause a host of physical and mental symptoms. Probiotics send support to the “good” bacteria by way of reinforcements, to help restore balance and health in the gut.

How Probiotics Support Kids Mental and Physical Health

A child’s gut can become imbalanced for a host of reasons including illness, diet, or disease. Child-safe probiotics can help restore balance in a child’s gut which may result in healthier digestion, regulated mood and behavior, and a healthier immune response.

Probiotics for Kids from Professional Supplement Center

Because kids’ bodies aren’t the same as adults, Professional Supplement Center has a well-stocked supply of probiotics for kids. Here are a few we recommend:

Probiotic Gummies for Kids by Nordic Naturals

Nordic Naturals is a trusted name in supplements and their Probiotic Gummies for Kids are berry flavored and loved by parents and kids alike. Each gummy contains a synergistic blend of potent probiotic and prebiotics to help rebalance intestinal flora and support digestive health in kids over two.

Raw Probiotics Kids by Garden of Life

Raw Probiotics Kids from Garden of Life is an easy to use powder that you can mix in water, juice, applesauce or yogurt to support a healthy gut in your kiddos. Each serving contains digestive and immune support with 5 Billion CFU found in 5 different probiotic strains.

MegaFlora Kids Probiotic by MegaFood

If your kids are over the age of 5, MegaFlora Kids Probiotic by MegaFood is a great choice. Each capsule contains 5 billion active bacteria of 14 life enhancing probiotics to support your child’s digestion and immune function.

What probiotics for kids have you tried in your household? Have you noticed a difference? We’d love to hear your story, so tell us all about it in the comments section below.

How to Prevent and Manage Osteoporosis

how to prevent and manage osteoporosis

Learn more about how to prevent and manage osteoporosis, naturally.

Your bones have many important functions in your body. They protect your organs, hold your body upright, anchor your muscles, and store important minerals like calcium. As with many other systems in our body, our bones are consistently healing and being regenerated.

Osteoporosis is a condition that occurs when new bone growth and healing is no longer able to keep up with progressing bone loss. Although inconvenient, osteoporosis is not inevitable as we age; there are many ways to promote bone health.

Even if you have received an osteoporosis diagnosis, you are not without treatment options, keep reading to learn more about how to prevent and manage osteoporosis, naturally.

Lifestyle Changes & Habits to Promote Healthy Bones

Regular exercise is a crucial part of having healthy bones for life. Many people tend to slow down as they age, but staying active plays a key role in keeping bones strong. Weight bearing exercise is particularly helpful as it helps your body build and maintain bone mass at any age. Be sure to check with your health care team before beginning any new fitness program to ensure it’s a good fit for you. If it’s not, they can help you find the right routine.

How to Prevent and Manage Osteoporosis with Your Diet

Like your mom always told you, drink your milk if you want strong bones. She was right, but dairy isn’t the only food-based source that is rich in calcium. Seeds, nuts, and leafy greens are another way to ensure you’re getting enough calcium in your diet. Remember that without enough Vitamin D, your body isn’t able to absorb calcium, this is why supplements can play a key role in ensuring optimal absorption.

In addition to calcium, magnesium and phosphorus are also important to bone health and can be found in nuts like almonds and seeds like chia and sesame. If you struggle to tolerate nuts or seeds due to an allergy or diagnosis, many cereals are fortified with all the nutrients you need to promote healthy bones.

Supplements to Support Bone Health

Professional Supplement Center carries products designed to support bone health, check out a few of our recommended brands.

OsteoBalance from Pure Encapsulations 

OsteoBalance by Pure Encapsulations provides a high calcium osteoporosis support formula, with additional nutritional factors that promote optimal calcium absorption. Each capsule also includes magnesium to support healthy bone mineralization and boron to reduce urinary calcium and magnesium excretion.

Osteoben by Designs for Health

Formulated to address the pathophysiology of osteopenia and osteoporosis, Osteoben from Designs for Health provides patients with the right conditions to manage bone health through nutrition and wellness.

Cal/Mag (Malate) 2:1 by Pure Encapsulations

Providing a 2:1 ratio of di-calcium malate and di-magnesium malate, Cal/Mag (Malate) 2:1 by Pure Encapsulations supports the body for optimal absorption of calcium and magnesium. Magnesium, like calcium, is an essential bone matrix mineral that promotes healthy bone metabolism.

What’s your best tip on how to prevent and manage osteoporosis? Share your insights with our team in the comments section below.