Vitabiotics Ireland How to thrive during this cold and flu season
WINTER is here, and with all the good stuff the season brings, so comes the cold and flu season.
Here are a few hacks from Vitabiotics Ireland to help you keep your immune system working well, and, if you do get a cold or flu, to help you knock it out as quickly and comfortably as possible!
Supplements
A strong immune system is important and what better way to boost the whole family’s immune system than with Vitabiotics Ireland.
There are certain vitamins and minerals that help the immune system function normally such as vitamin C and D, zinc and selenium. Vitabiotics Ireland has a range of supplements designed to support immune systems and energy levels for the whole family.
Wellkid Smart Chewable (€12.99)
With a special formulation of 21 nutrients, including iodine to contribute to normal growth, iron to help with cognitive development, plus vitamin D needed for healthy immune system and bone development, Wellkid Smart Chewable is a best way to safeguard your child’s intake of a wide range of important nutrients.
These Wellkid natural multi-vitamins are suitable for vegetarian diets and gluten free. Perfect for everyone.
Wellwoman Original (€13.49)
Formulated exclusively for women’s health, Wellwoman Original gives you all the support you need to help maintain overall health and vitality in a simple one-a-day tablet.
Ideal for women who lead hectic lifestyles, juggling work, family, and social commitments. From B complex vitamins to iron, zinc and biotin, Wellwoman Original offers a comprehensive spectrum of 24 different micronutrients that supports the nervous system, female and immune health, energy levels as well as the overall health of your skin, hair and nails. Wellman Original (€13.49)
The pioneering, original supplement especially for men.
For energy release, health and vitality in men of all ages.
The original Wellman® micronutrient tablet provides 29 nutrients to support hectic lifestyle, Immune system, sport, exercise and reproductive health.
Essential Oils Essential oils are extracted from plants that have biological healing properties.
Other than their pleasant smell, you usually either use them topically or put them in a diffuser. Eucalyptus oil contains eucalyptol, which relieves congestion, decreases coughing/bronchitis, and kills infectious bacteria in your respiratory tract. Eucalyptus oil is generally safe to put on your skin if you’re an adult. To breathe more easily, you can rub a bit of it under each nostril – an especially useful trick if you’re stuffed up and have trouble falling asleep.
Foods
Turns out that your mother was right about chicken soup, at least mostly.
Chicken soup, the old classic really does kill pathogens that cause upper respiratory infections.
Always get or make your chicken soup from the bones of pasture-raised chickens. You can also use beef or lamb bone broth bases with a dash of Brain Octane mixed in.
Ginger contains sesquiterpenes that specifically fight the rhinovirus – that’s the virus responsible for many colds.
To nab ginger’s benefits, you can make ginger tea, eat raw ginger, or add ginger to your chicken soup.
All Vitabiotics products are available in pharmacies and selected grocery stores nationwide.
By Sinead Moran
A UNIQUE evening of poetry and music is headed for the Hawk's Well Theatre. Taking place on Wednesday November 16, Words Become Music features wordsmiths Mary Branley and Eithne Hand, in collaboration with folk band GreenBird.
The evening will also feature performances from The Kobe Trio, as well as GreenBird in their own right.
In a setting which celebrates poetry by giving it a musical backdrop and creating something new and appealing, poets Branley and Hand will perform selected poems to GreenBird's soundscapes and original music. The aim is to emphasise and enhance the magic in the words.
GreenBird have already collaborated with both poets, and with Mary on several other occasions, including her recent book launch, and the one-hundred-year celebration of poet Leland Bardwell, both at the Hawk's Well and at the Skerries Book Festival. Eithne Hand meanwhile, is no stranger to the Hawk's Well, having performed in 2018 with Stephen James Smith. Her first poetry collection was launched in 2021. Regarding music, GreenBird will be performing a set of their original songs. The band uses poetry as a starting point for their powerful sound which is rooted in folk but with hints of classical and jazz too. Expect tuneful songs that use verse from a wide range of well-known poets including Christina Rossetti, Sara Teasdale and even Shakespeare. The Kobe Trio will kick off the evening with brand new material and tunes from their acclaimed debut album, 'Kobe'. Words Become Music takes place on Wednesday November 16 at 8pm. Tickets, priced €18/15 conc./9 u18s (plus €1 booking fee) are available now. For enquiries or to book, visit www.hawkswell.com or call 0719161518.