I’m a Dietitian, and These Are the Supplements I’m Buying for Cold & Flu Season During Fall Prime Day

Amazon’s October Prime Day officially kicked off today and there are millions of deals you can—and should—take advantage of. But in addition to items like sneakers, dinnerware and other kitchen items, I suggest also stocking up on some key supplements to help you get through cold and flu season. 

I’m taking advantage of October Prime Day to re-stock my supply of the supplements I put into rotation during cold and flu season. This way, I can pump up my immune system before illness-inducing germs cross my path. And for the supplements that I take when I start to feel sick, I’ll already have them on hand and ready to take. 

Sambucol Black Elderberry Syrup

Bold opinion here, but if there’s one supplement you should add to your arsenal for cold and flu season, it’s an elderberry syrup. And of the elderberry options out there, this is one of my favorites because this company only makes elderberry supplements. Elderberry is a supplement that you can take every day, and then if/when you get sick, you can increase your dosage. Elderberry’s anti-inflammatory properties help your immune system work more effectively when you’re sick—and research suggests it can ease the severity of your symptoms up to 50%. 

Mary Ruth’s Vitamin D3 Gummies

Vitamin D does more than just help strengthen bones—it also plays a role in regulating your immune function and reducing inflammation. But many of us fall short on vitamin D, so a supplement can be hugely helpful. I like to supplement with vitamin D year-round and these gummies are the easiest way for me to keep my kids’ D levels where they need to be, especially during cold and flu season. 

Nature Made Super C with Vitamin D3 and Zinc

Vitamin C has always had a reputation as an immune-booster—and rightfully so. Research shows that doubling down on vitamin C at the onset of any sickness can shorten the duration of your illness. I like this particular vitamin C supplement because a single serving delivers 1000% of my daily dose of C, plus gives me healthy doses of vitamins D and E and zinc. 

Nordic Naturals Vitamin C Gummies

Sure, the savings aren’t that significant here, but I couldn’t put together my recommendations without including this vitamin C gummy. My kids love the flavor of this Nordic Naturals gummy. I am partial to it (even though it contains added sugars) because it’s free from artificial flavors and colors, which is something I watch out for with one of my daughters.

 Life’s First Naturals Colostrum Powder

You’ve probably seen colostrum supplements advertised on social media. I know I can’t escape them—and truthfully it made me a little skeptical of colostrum’s benefits. But when I looked at the research I was surprised to read that colostrum has been shown to cut your risk of getting the flu and reduce the severity of stomach bug-like illnesses. So this is a supplement (like elderberry) that I’ve added to my daily routine to keep winter illness at bay as best as possible. 

LMNT Zero Sugar Electrolytes 

When you’re sick, especially if you have a fever, it’s important to stay hydrated. And while you don’t have to use an electrolyte powder in your water, adding some flavor could help you drink more fluids. When we put this drink to the test in our test kitchen, we loved how quickly the LMNT powder dissolved in water. It does have a strong salty flavor to it, though, and some tasters didn’t care for that. But that’s one of the reasons I love LMNT so much. 

Natural Vitality Calm Drink Mix Packets

A good night’s rest is vital for a healthy immune system, and experts say that magnesium may help you sleep better. There are a lot of magnesium supplements available (so choose what’s best for you), but this particular drink mix works for everyone in my house, which is why I like to keep it on hand.