That fresh, crisp scent of autumn is in the air. But as the mercury drops and the days get shorter, the risk of catching a cold or flu increases.

The key to staying healthy as the season changes is prevention. Check out the below all-natural ways to strengthen your immune system and prepare it for the cold and flu season ahead.

The ABC’s of Vitamins

Vitamins B and C, as well as minerals such as Zinc and selenium are important for helping our body deal with stress, fight free radicals and maintain a healthy immune system. Taking a daily multi-vitamin can help ensure we are receiving adequate levels of these important vitamins and minerals, especially for those of us who are super-busy and unable to get our daily recommended intake from the food we’re eating.

(fish oil pills may look eerie, but the benefits are ten-fold!)

Not So Fishy Fish Oil

Fish oil is another fantastic fall formula. The Omega 3’s in fish oil help our bodies reduce inflammation, flush toxins and maintain immune balance – all things that have a positive impact on our health. A brand we recommend is Nordic Naturals. Not only does their fish oil taste great, but the company also tests their oil for purity to ensure there are no heavy metals or toxins in any of its products.

Tea Temptations

If you find yourself under the covers because you’re under the weather, it is important to stay hydrated. Drinking lots of fluids such as water and herbal teas makes the thin mucous secretions easier to get rid of. According to recent research, tea has the ability to boost and strengthen the immune system as well as prevent cell damage, both of which improve the body’s ability to fight disease and infection.

A great tea choice when feeling sick is Organic Ginger tea; which helps cleanse the body and minimize the severity of a cold. Ginger helps to increase perspiration, which in turn helps to reduce the temperature of a fever. Plus, herbal teas do not contain caffeine, so the water from this drink is beneficial to the body as well.

All Washed Up

Health Professionals recommend preventing the common cold through regular hand washing. When a family member is sick, everyone in the house should be washing their hands even more than usual. For those times when soap and water is out of reach, a bottle of hand sanitizer can do the trick.

It’s that time of year again! Stressful holiday shopping with its crowds, long lines, and sold-out items has arrived. This year, beat the rush by checking out BN’s Holiday Gift Guide! Each section of this month’s issue has its very own guide to help you find the perfect gift for your beauty, spa, skincare, or fitness fanatic friends and family. Check out our five festive fit finds below for inspiration, and beat the rush (and late gift-buying stress!) by ordering these items online. (We’ve even added the links for each item to make it easy for you!)

Exhale Spa Gift Set – Just in time for the holidays, Exhale Spa is bringing their popular fitness workout—Core Fusion—to DVD format giving people the opportunity to continue Exhale’s transformational mind body class experience at home. The gift includes: two DVDs featuring the two most popular classes, Core Fusion Body Sculpt and Core Fusion Pilates Plus, one pair of grippy socks, an Exhale-branded water bottle, and a Core Fusion exercise and stretching strap, all packaged in a super cute eco-friendly Exhale workout bag.

(Not sure what Core Fusion is? Check out BN writer, Ava Mackenzie’s article describing her experience at Exhale Spa NYC.)

Deluxe Hoopnotica Starter Kit – Hula hooping as a workout has been on the rise for a few years now and with Hoopnotica’s claim that their Hoopnotic Hoopdance can burn as many calories as running, why not gift your calorie-conscious gym rats with the Hoopnotica Starter Kit? The travel-friendly kit consists of a TravelHoop, two hoopdance DVDs and two CDs, a coordinating hoop strap, and a hoop tote.

iMuffs – iMuffs by Wi-Gear are sleek, ergonomically-designed wireless headphones that work with iPods and BT phones and provide great stereo sound. The control panel on the headphones lets users pause, change volume, skip tracks, and seek music right from the headphones. And when paired to your BT phone, you can pause the music and answer incoming calls. The perfect gift for those irritated by wires getting in the way of a workout.

Manduka Yoga Mat –Whether she’s an “upward facing dog” expert or a novice, you can never go wrong with gifting your fave gal pal with a yoga mat. Along with the body and mind perks of yoga, Manduka mats have a lifetime guarantee, which means you’re helping the environment by reducing consumption, all while distressing and detoxifying your inner self. Plus, the quality of these mats is seriously unsurpassed, making them a solid piece of equipment for all yogis, new and old.

Totes with Quotes –ECOBAGS® offers the perfect holiday gift accessory item. Introducing, “Totes with Quotes”. These Fair Wage/Fair Labor, eco-friendly reusable bags are stylish, affordable and hip!  
With totes featuring sayings like “Get Hip Get Green”, “Think Global Act Local”, “Talk Green to Me”, “Make Love Not Carbon”, and many more; there is sure to be a bag for everyone including the rocker, the activist, the eco-aware, the mother and the truly chic.