This is one of my life saving products. I do not travel without it. If you feel a cold or illness of any kind coming on, use Zicam to decrease both the intensity of possible symptoms as well as the duration of the illness. If you were catching the flu, Zicam will make it a simple cold; if you were catching a cold that would have lasted two weeks and made you miserable for the first week, Zicam will make it last 5 days and you will be ambulatory and energetic. If I feel something coming on I use it at the first sign (as you need to use it withing two days of symptoms for it to be effective since it is not a cold medicine, rather a preventitive product) and often do not end up getting sick at all. When it first came on the market it only came in one form, this gooey liquid that you put in your nose; now it comes in individual use swabs, fast melts, tablets, chews, strips, sprays, etc. Zicam can be found in any drugstore, and will become your best friend. I promise!

The multi-vitamin: What an interesting topic! I picked this particular one just as an example, but finding a healthy multi-vitamin is very important. Anything made by Centrum or a similar brand, or sold in the grocery store, or coated in orange or another bright color is worthless and bad for your body. Mass-market vitamins as such are so compressed and devoid of nutrition after their massive processing that there is nothing in there for your body to absorb. They are so hard, like little bullets, that they generally pass through your body without being broken down; they cant be broken down and therefore those listed nutrients are not even being accessed and processed. If you currently take that kind of a vitamin it is only for your psychological piece of mind, and now that you know it is worthless you can buy something else. There are a lot of options - I currently used the Whole Foods Food-Based One, which only needs to be taken once a day. They have similar products that you take 3x a day, etc. I like this one because it doesnt brake the bank (180 pills for around 20 dollars) and some of these can get really pricey. I know the Centrums out there are inexpensive, but what is the point if you arent able to absorb the contents? A vitamin should be bland in color and smell a bit strange - that means it has the right stuff in it and no preservatives meant to hide the smell or contents. The nice thing about food-based vitamins is they are natural as opposed to chemically-based, and thus easier for our bodies to utilize. Any health-food store, specialty grocery, etc will have a good natural multi-vitamin that has a lot more per pill that the average mass-market brand. If you dont like pills you can find liquids or powders that will offer the same nutritional benefits. But it is worthwhile to buy the right kind of product if you are going to make the effort. As a side note, when I threw away my One-A-Day women's formula, or whatever it was that I was taking before I learned about proper multi-vitamins, I poured them in the toilet to see how long it would take for them to break down in water, and they just sat there all day. The coating barely even melted off. What are the chances that those are being absorbed into our bodies!

Ok this is a bit gratuitous, but I had to add blueberries to this list. Blueberries are basically the best food out there. Not only do they taste amazing, but they are chalk full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, etc. I do a couple of things with them. One, in the summer I eat fresh ones like it is going out of style. Two, I wash them and throw them in freezer bags and eat them frozen all year round. You eat fewer when they are frozen as you have to let them melt in your mouth, and they provide a wonderful healthy snack/treat. If you click this web page you can read a more in-depth report on the benefits of blueberries, but they are most definitely a super food and should be part of a healthy lifestyle. I also like to freeze grapes (small red ones work best) and substitute them for blueberries when blueberries get really expensive or are nowhere to be found in the grocery store.

Kind Fruit and Nut Bars were introduced to me by a nutritionist who I used to see. They are fabulous, and I love them. They are an all-natural alternative to a candy bar or energy bar or meal bar. They are not full of weird ingredients, preservatives, and chalky-tasting fake ingredients as many 'nutrition' products are these days. They can be ordered online from many places, or purchased at a health-oriented grocery store. Since they have a lot of nuts they are higher in fat, but this is essential fat that your body needs in order to function properly. I used to be apprehensive about the fat content, but my nutritionist explained to me that eating one of these bars instead of a package of gummy bears which has no fat was infinitely smarter and would stave off food cravings for longer, thus keeping me satisfied and less likely to snack on bad foods. In the long run, therefore, you eat less and consumer fewer calories! My favorite flavor is walnut and date, but they are all good and very flavorful. Plus they donate some of their proceeds to charity!

Part of any good wellness routine involves getting proper sleep. For many reasons, including allergies, nasal physiology issues, etc. many people don't breathe well at night and this leads to poor sleep for them...or their partner! I have a deviated septum from a long-standing accident, and I recently began using these and am very impressed by them. Apprehensive at first, I finally decided to make the purchase and have been sleeping better ever since. I can now sleep and breathe through my nose with no problems at all. It is exciting. They are easy to use, and also easy to remove. I will admit that the strip makes your nose look a bit funny as it stretches it out in order to enlarge the nasal passage. Not exactly the sexiest look, but what matters is comfort and the enhanced ability to get proper rest at night. Maybe don't wear one during your first sleepover with the new boyfriend/girlfriend. They also sell these at Costco, where the price is right. But they aren't too expensive, and can make all the difference in a peaceful, restful night of sleep.

Intestinal health is the key to feeling good. I know that sounds like a broad statement, but when your GI track is off and improperly functioning, you feel bad very quickly. Of course it is important that every system within be in balance. Many people have digestive problems, or food allergies, and dont even know it. I recently found out I am allergic to some items that I used to eat all the time, and while I felt bad I did not equate that to what I was eating. Since taking Gastri-Gest enzymes before a meal, I have felt a lot better. They aid in digestion, just like a product like Lactaid helps people digest dairy products. Its the same idea, except these capsules have many digestive enzymes to help with most of the foods we eat. Since taking these I feel notably less bloated, uncomfortable, and have fewer stomach aches and cramps when eating difficult to digest items. Processed foods, dairy, meat, soy, eggs, and others are common problem foods that most of us eat even though they might cause discomfort (known or unknown to us). I dont always remember to take these, but when food is properly broken down inside the intenstines most of the time, it creates a more harmonious environment inside of the GI track. Unless you only eat salad and fruit and organic chicken, I would suggest taking these.

Biotics Research makes a host of wonderful supplement prodcuts. I have used various ones, including this detox program (it comes with other items as well). As I have spent a lot of time learning about our bodies and the stress we carry around, I have invested in some products to help eliminatetoxic build-up in order to feel more lively and energetic. Everyone, even healthy people, can benefit from the occasional cleansing program. What I like about these vitamins is that they help cleanse the liver, gall bladder, etc. For anyone out there who takes or has taken any medication for a long period of time, this kind of a product is important to use from time to time. Also, eating lots of fruits, veggies, lean protien and nuts/seeds/legumes while doing a cleanse will help the body to be able to absorb the nutrients. Biotics makes tons of vitamin products for specific cases (thyroid support, women, mood, adrenal support, depression, etc) so there is something for everyone. I was introduced to this line by an alternative healthcare provider, and I really like it.

Fiber is a very important item to address because it can be done extremely well and to one's benefit, but it can also be a detriment if used improperly. Lots of people think there is a quick fiber fix to be found using products like metamucil, fiber-con, fiber choice, etc. BE CAREFUL WITH THESE. They are good if you are already regular and are just trying to be a bit better, but if you are blocked up and looking for movement they are your worst enemy. I know this through experience. If you are not regular, the fiber supplements just build up like a lead balloon in your stomach, leading to possible severe discomfort. Thus, the best way to utilize fiber is to make sure you are already regular and then enhance your diet with fiber-rich foods such as fruit, veggies, bran, beans, oatmeal, prunes, etc etc. Also, beware of laxatives, as they can really mess with the natural chemistry of the GI track. It is a common misconception, perpetuated by commercials and the likes, that fiber supplements will cure constipation; just make sure to add those kinds of products into your diet slowly so as to beat discomfort. Having said all of this, fiber is a great ally for many reasons, including GI track health, regularity, and a general feeling of satiety and fullness that prevents us from eating lesser, worse food items.

Flax seeds are full of Omega 3.6.9 fatty acids which make our brains run smoother and our cells renew faster. Among other things. They are available many places, such as whole foods, specialty groceries, online, and even at large chain groceries which have burgeoning health-food sections. Flax seeds should be ground or else they will pass through your system without being absorbed. They can be sprinkles on all sorts of foods (cereal, oatmeal, salad, etc) and added to baked goods, sauces, etc. Omega fatty acids are part of our cellular building blocks. Flax is fabulous, a real super-food.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is not a joke, it is the truth. For some reason in America we tend to emphasize dinner, which makes no sense when you think about it. The whole point of food is to provide fuel for your life - by the time we eat dinner our day is basically winding down and we dont need fuel to get through anything else. So, the time to eat is breakfast. I sometimes find it hard to find healthy foods for breakfast since most breakfast items are full of sugar and little else. Plus it is hard to find the time to eat breakfast anyways. Nature's Path makes wonderful cereals that are both high in fiber and protein...very important in order to keep your hunger at bay until lunch. Most cereals have little if any fiber or protein, but tons of empty sugary calories. Natures Path can be found at most stores, though places like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods will definitely carry it. They taste good, too, and come in all sorts of interesting flavors and combinations. They also make fantastic granola. Do something good for yourself and start out the day with a healthy breakfast!

Vitamin B5, or Pantothenic Acid, is great for anyone but especially those under stress and those with skin problems. It is known as the vitamin that produces healthy skin - it helps to alleviate dry skin and other impurities that come as a result of stress in the body. It is found in foods in small amounts, but a supplement needs to be taken in order to gain benefits from it. I can say that it really helped restore some of the elacticity and smoothness to my skin, which I am very happy about. This can be found online or at places like Whole Foods; basically anywhere where there is a large vitamin department as I have not found it in the drug store or grocery store as of late. Healthy skin generally comes from the inside out; no matter what products you use if things are unbalanced inside it will show in the skin as the skin is the largest organ in our bodies. It is nice to know that certain vitamins help improve its condition, among other things.