A Natural, Herbal Version of Tamiflu for Flu Recovery?

Q: It seems everyone is getting sick around me, so I was wondering if there was anything that was really effective against the flu virus.

A: We wrote last month about a number of natural immune boosters which are very effective for preventative immunity (you can read the article here). There is a combination of supplements however that have been shown in recent research to be as effective as the prescription antiviral Tamiflu against the flu virus.

The study gave 473 patients who exhibited flu symptoms elderberry extract and echinacea or Tamiflu within the first 48 hours of the beginning of the illness. The recovery rates from the combination of elderberry and echinacea were the same as Tamiflu  (the elderberry and echinacea group actually had slightly better recovery rates when compared to the prescription Tamiflu), but without side effects- the researchers reported that patients taking oseltamivir (Tamiflu) were more likely to experience gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and vomiting than the supplement group.

I would definitely recommend keeping elderberry extract and echinacea in the house this winter. For elderberry extract we recommend Sambucus elderberry syrup by Nature’s Answer since it is the exact formulation used in several other trials against the flu virus, with impressive results. Elderberry syrup can be taken preventatively against viruses or taken in higher doses if you do actually get sick.

For echinacea, we recommend the standardized echinacea extract by Nature's Way. It's a great, high potency extract.

Elderberry can be taken preventatively against illness, but it’s best to save the echinacea until you feel the beginnings of sickness, since research has shown that that is when it is most effective. If you've been sick for a while, supplementing with elderberry alone is the best course of action, due to its potent antiviral compounds. 

Here are a few other articles from our site which you may find helpful:
 

A Pass Favorite: Irwin Naturals ImmunoShield

Zinc Lozenges: Clinically Proven to Boost the Immune System

Health Q & A: Keeping Kids Healthy this Winter

Our Favorite Immune Boosting Supplements

Zollipops: Xylitol Lollipops for Kid's Oral Health

Zollipops are new xylitol lollipops we’ve just gotten in and they’re amazing! Xylitol helps to prevent tooth decay, and Zollipops have also been shown to help restore a healthy oral pH, which helps to prevent cavities and tooth decay. Zollipops are great tasting and are a fantastic treat for kids after a meal, since they actually help to prevent cavities!

Zollipops certainly aren’t a replacement for proper brushing, but they’re a great thing to have on the go, and are a wonderful alternative for sugar laden candies! A little bit of xylitol is wonderful for oral health, but Zollipops should be limited to three a day for children. 
  
I don’t know if you’re a Shark Tank fan, but Zollipops was featured recently on their Kid-Preneurs Edition- Zollipops was conceived by a nine year old girl who dreamed of a lollipop that was actually good for your teeth, and from that, Zollipops was born.

Garden of Life Organic Plant Protein

We’re having a huge sale on Garden of Life this month for our store’s anniversary- 40% off their entire line!  Because of the sale I wanted to mention one of their products I’ve been using and absolutely love, their Organic Plant Protein.

I have dairy free diet, so over the years, I have tried a LOT of different plant based protein powders.  I have to say, that Garden of Life’s Organic Plant Protein is the very best one I’ve tasted.  Many plant proteins can be gritty or a little odd tasting, but not so with this one.  It’s creamy and delicious, and is even liked by picky eaters.  The vanilla is my favorite, since it literally tastes like cake.

I would very much recommend taking advantage of the sale and giving Garden of Life’s Organic Plant Protein a try this month.  

Supplement Spotlight: Jarrow's Greek Yogurtein

We have a new protein powder by Jarrow called Greek Yogurtein.  I wanted to write about it since it’s such a unique protein supplement.  It combines fast digesting whey protein with slow digesting micellar casein proteins for sustained energy and muscle building.

Whey protein is great after exercise since it gives an immediate (but short lived) boost to protein synthesis.  Casein (another milk protein) is slower to digest and be used by the body, which leads to a prolonged increase in amino acids and also reduces protein breakdown.  The micellar form of casein protein (which is the form in Jarrow’s Greek Yogurtein) has been shown in research to prevent muscle breakdown.  The micellar form of casein is also of significantly higher quality than conventional casein protein.

Since whey protein increases protein synthesis and casein protein reduces protein breakdown, they make a fantastic pairing for muscle health and growth.  All of us would benefit from building some extra muscle, since increasing muscle raises metabolism, helps to prevent osteoporosis, improves blood sugar control, and improves sleep.

The micellar casein protein in Jarrow’s Greek Yogurtein is also slowly digested, which means it stays in the stomach longer, which in turn helps a person to feel full and satisfied with less calories.

During the month of March, we’ll have Jarrow’s Greek Yogurtein on sale for 25% off.