My secret weapons for winter immunity!

I have a secret during the winter. I don't give my family medicines. Instead, I use natural methods to boost their immune systems and then use certain supplements to sooth symptoms as they pop up.

Here is my best vitamin cabinet advice for winter immunity:

Take a good multi-vitamin (with iron for women of child bearing age)
-choose food based rather than synthetic
-do your homework to find out what a balanced multi should have
-make sure yours isn't cheaply made (low on biotin is a good test)
-drop it in water to see if it will dissolve

Take a regular immune supplement
-a natural interferon production booster is the best choice

Have an immune booster on hand at onset of illness or exposure
-an echinacea complex (including zinc)
-tablet forms can be swallowed or ground up in hot water for a tea
-can be ground and put into honey for a natural cough supressent

Vitamin C
-a chewable version is fabulous for sucking on when you have a sore throat
-take it regularly AND extra during an illness
-regular doses may help reduce allergy symptoms

Calcium Magnesium
-when taken in a chewable form can reduce heart-burn
-can help reduce of prevent restless or aches in legs
-regular calcium supplementation can decrease bone loss
-magnesium helps us absorb the calcium more efficiently

There you have it. My supplement recommendations for a healthier immune system and healthier winter! If you, like my area of the country, are experiencing some more severe winter weather right now, may you and your families be safe and healthy!

Happy Spring Break! Mr. Sun is right around the corner, and our winter blues can pass. Now you can be stocked up for the rest of this winter and on into ALLERGY SEASON!

Blessings,
:) Kaycee

My Prenatal Vitamin Story

As many of you know, I am a 39-year-old mother of 4 children ages 7 to 1.5. The short story is that when my husband and I were trying to get pregnant (8 years and 4 children ago!), I took my Shaklee vitamins into my OB and said, "Is there anything in these that I shouldn't be having while pregnant, and is there anything missing that I will need?" My OB took a look at my bottles and said, "I can't get this for you in a prenatal." I said, "So this would be okay?" She responded while looking over the labels, "This is much better than anything I could get you. These look good."

Now, medical doctors aren't nutritionists, but they do know a pregnant mother needs Folic Acid and many are recommending Omegas these days. Unfortunately, most prenatal vitamins are synthetic and not from whole food sources. That being said, I have also heard 2 OBs speaking on how they used Shaklee for prenatals in their practice for years. Both reported lower preterm birth rates and prenatal complications in those mothers who took the Shaklee vitamins compared to those in their practices who took other prenatals instead.

Important things to consider:

• If the pregnant mother is experiencing leg cramps . . . she may need more calcium.
• If the pregnant mother doesn't eat safe fish (wild and contaminate free) 2 + times a week . . . she may not be getting the omegas she needs.
• If the pregnant mother is feeling nausiated from her current prenatals . . . they may not be digesting properly.
• If the pregnant mother is using synthetic prenatals . . . they may not be absorbing properly.
• There are no symptoms of low levels of prenatal folic acid, but it is a critical nutrient for baby.
• Folic acid and calcium are delicate nutrients that need to be absorbed at the right time during digestion to be effective.
• Iron taken with vitamin C aides in absorbtion and helps prevent stomach irritation.
• Low energy in a pregnant mom can be a sign of either iron or protein deficiency.
• Always talk with your OB about a new prenatal supplement addition or switch.

I hope this helps you or someone you love in the decision to go with Shaklee vitamins as prenatals. I have successfully (and with the blessing of 3 different OB's now) taken them for conception, prenatal, and postnatal/nursing periods. I don't have to change what I'm taking, and I'm getting what the baby and I both need. I have carried all 4 babies to full term and had no complications and they have all had great APGAR scores.

I am here if any of you have any questions about any of this. I am NOT a medical doctor, but I'm always happy to help moms and babies be as healthy as possible. Shaklee products have amazing integrity and they cover nutrition from infancy to golden years. They are a gift to anyone you are willing to share them with in this day of processed and fast food trends.

Blessings,
:) Kaycee Farrell
Littleton, CO
naturesconnection@shaklee.net

For more information on our Shaklee vitamins, please visit our website:
www.shaklee.net/naturesconnection

For more great information about health during pregnancy . . .
click here: http://content.nhiondemand.com/shp/weeklystudies.asp
then enter "pregnancy" into the search box on that page!