How I’m Staying Healthy During Cold Season

This post is sponsored by Zicam® Total Immune.

I work for myself. I don’t get sick days, because there’s nobody else who can cover for me. If I get sick with no warning, and something is due, I have to make it happen. And that sucks. Nobody likes working when they’re sick, getting behind in other things, letting people down, and then being overwhelmed when they get better. It’s much easier to not get sick in the first place.

That’s easier said than done in winter, when we’re all in close quarters, and our nasal cavities are dried up from the heat being on, and our immune systems are taking a beating from the cold.

There are no guarantees in life, but there are things that I’m doing to put the odds of staying healthy in my favor. One of these is partnering with Zicam® Total Immune. They sent me two products to try: Zicam® Total Immune + Performance Support Orange Burst Melts, and Zicam® Total Immune + Digestive Health Berry Crystals.

These products arrived just a few days before I was leaving on a big work trip to Las Vegas. This is significant because of the three previous times I’d gone on this particular trip, I’d come home sick twice with really bad colds. Between the long plane rides and long days at the Las Vegas Convention Center being around thousands of people, exchanging lots of business cards, it’s like being in a petri dish for almost a week.

And while these products do not specifically prevent, treat, or cure colds, they do support overall immune health, which is important for staying healthy.

I decided to start with the Zicam® Total Immune Crystals, since each packet is packed with 500mg of vitamin C (that’s 833% of the recommended daily allowance!), as well as probiotics with live active cultures, which can help support immune health. You can take up to three packets a day, and I opted for two – one each morning, one each evening.

The instructions said that I could dissolve the crystals in my mouth, or dissolve them in water. I tried just emptying the packet into my mouth, but I won’t be doing that again. It’s the vitamin C that I was tasting, and it went down much easier dissolved in a glass of water.

I didn’t miss a packet during the entire trip, and I made it through the entire Vegas trip totally healthy! Now, I can’t prove a negative. I can’t say “I didn’t get sick while taking this so it must work!” But I will say that both of the people I was on the trip with went home horribly sick. And I didn’t. Take from that what you will.

I also tried one of the Zicam® Total Immune Melts, just to see what it tasted like. Those are more for recovering after exercising or keeping up with a busy schedule, and since I wasn’t allowed to exercise until a few days ago (I had my gallbladder removed a month ago), I don’t really need those yet. But once I get back on my treadmill and work starts to ramp up after the holidays, the electrolytes and B vitamins are going to come in very handy.

Plus, the Zicam® Total Immune Melts are a natural source of caffeine. And they taste great! I dissolved one on my tongue and it tasted like candy.

Both products are really convenient and can be easily stashed in a purse. I’m almost out of the Zicam® Total Immune Crystals, but I ordered more and they were really affordable. I’m going to keep taking them (at my own expense) through spring. Basically, from now until beach weather. I can’t think of a better endorsement than that.

So what else am I doing to stay healthy? I’m trying really  hard to get enough sleep. I don’t always get it at night, so when that happens I clear 90 minutes or so in the afternoon for a nap.

I’m also making sure to eat the fruits and vegetables that I need each day. The vegetables are easy – a big salad or soup for lunch practically takes care of it. Fruit is a little harder for me, but I’ve been trying to keep bananas and strawberries on hand at all times, since I love those. Expensive in the winter, but worth it.

I wash my hands a lot, with good old-fashioned soap and hot water.

And, my least favorite of all, I’m making sure to stay hydrated. I’ve never really liked drinking water, but I feel terrible when I don’t get enough. I’ve been getting two glasses each day with the Zicam® Total Immune Crystals, and then I also drink one glass after each meal, which equals 60 ounces. And when I exercise, I’ll be drinking extra.

Between those things and Zicam® Total Immune, I’m crossing my fingers for a healthy winter and spring! You can check out their site for more ways to stay healthy, and more information on the Zicam® Total Immune products.

This post was sponsored by Zicam® Total Immune.

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