“Tripledemic”: How to Stay Healthy

By Marley Wells

Every year, as the months get colder and colder, we all know what is coming: sniffles, sneezes, colds, flus– oh my! This year especially, it is important to keep you and your family healthy: some medical experts are warning that we could be in for a rough winter, with RSV, COVID-19, and the flu all surging to create a perfect “tripledemic” storm. Now more than ever is the time to use natural ways like elderberry to keep you and your family healthy and avoid illness this winter. Here are some tips we suggest:

1. Wash your hands and clean contaminated surfaces regularly. It goes without saying that avoiding transmission itself is the most effective way to prevent illness. Other ways that good hygiene can prevent illness include covering your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, as well as avoiding touching your eyes, mouth, or nose. All of these are easy ways for germs to spread through a household; get ahead of it by stopping transmission in its tracks!
2. Eat nourishing, whole foods to support your immune system. Beverages like bone broth or Lemon Ginger Tea provide antioxidants, and the warmth of the liquid can help loosen mucus in those who are already sick. Vitamin C-rich foods like sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, blueberries, and peppers similarly are high in antioxidants, helping to fight free radicals. You could even use our Elderberry Syrup for an extra immune boost in a Vitamin C fruit smoothie! Our Elderberry Syrup contains antioxidant-high elderberries and aronia berries, providing your immune system with the boost it needs in the coming months.
3. Avoid stress, maximize rest. Both a lack of sleep in addition to increased stress levels can reduce the immune response, making it harder for your body to fight off seasonal threats. I know, it is much easier said than done to avoid stress–especially during the holidays. No gift is better than the gift of good health, though! Listen to your body, and don’t push past your limits these cold months. Make sure you are getting the sleep you need.

For more resources about the “Tripledemic,” you can check out these articles:

https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/tripledemic-flu-rsv-and-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR33Kj07RPtXk_PezaKFAt60-pU8H_ZJMDcw2aHbIQEdalKbv1bR-JjWYXI

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/23/health/flu-covid-risk.html?fbclid=IwAR3UB3_CU_9CfaeDM_06VNoe-dBWHD_i3233NsyNykQpFHIR210Xq80zjgM

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/05/1140806412/cdc-updates-the-status-of-the-tripledemic