Cold and flu season! Exciting! My favorite time of year!

I would probably do anything to avoid a cold. Like truly I would probably rather have the flu. I feel like with the flu I can just go die in my bed for a week but a cold? Colds like to stick around for 10 million years and you’re never quite sick enough to make the excuse that you can’t do anything.

THE WORST.

So anyway, when my SECOND PREGNANCY COLD started creeping in last week I was like NOPE. Just nope. Not happening.

When you start to feel like you’ve got something coming on, it’s SO important to start to load up immune-boosting nutrients. And there are a million different ways to do this. There isn’t a magic pill or supplement. There are several ways you to can boost your immune system and you don’t have to spend $300 at Whole Foods to do it.

Here are some of my favorite micronutrients to pump into your body:

• Vitamin C – THE OG. Liposomal forms are best absorbed. Here’s a good brand.

• Cod Liver Oil – Research shows that the combination of vitamin A & D are effective at both preventing and reserving colds and flus, which is why I love cod liver oil. This is my favorite brand. I know it’s not cheap, but it’s REALLY high quality.

• Zinc – Most people don’t get enough zinc, and it’s an excellent immune booster, so it’s an important one to add when you start to feel under the weather. 30mg/d is a good amount to add when you’re fighting something – here’s a great brand.

So, taking these vitamins and minerals is GREAT and I highly recommend just having these on hand during cold season – especially since vitamin C and zinc are really inexpensive. But I have another secret weapon that I swear by – TURMERIC AND GINGER.

The two of these together are potent anti-viral and anti-microbial powerhouses with tons of benefits. And turmeric, in particular, is incredibly anti-inflammatory. So, while the two work together to fight infection, the anti-inflammatory properties help relieve symptoms to allow you to just feel better faster (that inflammatory feeling that comes with colds ARE THE WORST).

I’ve actually been drinking this concoction for years when I’ve gotten sick and I absolutely swear by it. But when I used to do it, I would go to Whole Foods or Arden’s Garden and buy cold-pressed ginger and turmeric juice to make it. It was a) expensive AF (like $20 for 2 12 oz bottles) and b) whatever I didn’t use would go bad.

Then I found this nifty concoction from Further Food called Superfood Turmeric which combines organic turmeric, ginger, and a bunch of other anti-inflammatory superfoods and adaptogens so I figured I’d give it a try. (pssst…you can get 10% off by using code NUTRITIONADDICTION).

Works. Like. A. Charm.

Saves me a trip to the store when I start to feel shitty AND I’ve also found it’s just a great thing to have on hand anytime I’m feeling inflamed (like after Chinese takeout? LOL).

I mix this up and I drink it 3 times a day until I start to feel my cold getting knocked out. And really, this is just a great immunity drink to sip on to PREVENT colds, too. But if you’re drinking just to ward colds off, I would recommend reducing the honey or eliminating it.

I love honey, it’s super good for you, but it IS still sugar, so consuming loads of it when you don’t need to isn’t necessary.

Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients:

• Superfood Turmeric, which we’ve already discussed

• FRESH lemon juice (make sure it’s fresh) gives you a dose of vitamin C + it’s great at reducing phlegm

• Raw honey is antimicrobial and antibacterial, and if you can spring it (it’s pricey), Makuna honey is even more powerful than raw honey when it comes to reducing inflammation and fighting colds.

• Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin which is a proven decongestant. This isn’t a MUST if you don’t like spice but if you’re suffering, you’ll make it work.

This tea is delicious, but it’s pretty tart. I love it because I love intensity (makes me feel like it’s working), but just a heads up, this isn’t going to taste like a shaken green tea strawberry lemonade from Starbucks. It’s going to taste like turmeric, ginger, lemon, cayenne, and honey.

And it’s likely going to shorten the duration of your cold and cough and alleviate your symptoms, so I think you’re gonna be fine with it.

Here’s the recipe – and yes, you can absolutely go buy some expensive ass fresh ginger and turmeric juice but if you’re like me, you’re gonna go the cheap and convenient route and snag some Superfood Turmeric. Be responsible and get is NOW so you don’t have to wait for shipping!!!

COLD-KILLER TURMERIC TEA

Ingredients:

8 oz hot water

2 scoops Turmeric Tonic

Juice of ½ lemon

1 Tbsp raw or Manuka honey

⅛ tsp cayenne (add more if you like intense!!!)

Instructions:

Heat water first, then add remaining ingredients. Use a hand frother to really blend it up. If you don’t blend the turmeric well, it’ll settle a bit on the bottom of the mug.

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This post is sponsored by Further Food. But I would never, ever recommend a product I wouldn’t purchase myself (that’s so gross).