COVID has been running rampant on college campuses in spite of high vaccination rates,  and many college kids went back to their respective campuses without flu essentials. And, let’s be honest, most college kids can’t afford to go out and buy lots of flu supplies.

But we can help put together a care kit for our college students if we have one!

Since COVID-19 is a respiratory infection like the common cold or the flu, standard and easy find over-the-counter medications can often help with symptoms if your college student gets sick. Here are some basic items to add:

• Covid tests
• Thermometer
• Finger oxygen monitor
• Honey
• Vitamins
• Kleenex
• Electrolyte powders
• Hand sanitizer
• Masks
• Throat lozenges
• Decongestants
• Pain reliever
• Echinacea or immune-boosting tea
• Canned bone broth, see our recipe

Read more about creating a flu-fighting arsenal here.

Once you get the basics, you can add other flu supplies

Including things like fluids, decongestants, Kleenexes, etc., is this first step. Next, you should add some supplements like zinc, vitamin C, and elderberry syrup.  Other supplements like turmeric can be very beneficial if you have a viral illness.

Because so much of the cold and flu supplies are limited at the stores, teas or even an electric tea kettle could be useful.

Honey’s Health Benefits and Why You Need It In Your Ready Nutrition Medicinal Pantry

There is also a type of honey known as Manuka Honey, a special type of healing honey that can fight against more than 200 types of bacteria and some of the species it defeats are resistant strains such as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Manuka honey is obtained from bees that are in New Zealand and is differentiated from other types of honey for its healing qualities because it comes from pollen the bees there take from the Manuka bush. -Ready Nutrition

But it isn’t just honey that has healing and immune supporting benefits.

Teas that contain turmeric have been used to help those with arthritis conditions, and to boost the immune system.  Turmeric is a popular spice made from the rhizome or root of the Curcuma longa plant and the active ingredient in it that makes it so effective is called curcumin.

Another positive thing about using teas with turmeric is the anti-depression qualities of curcumin. When one gets the news that that COVID test was positive, they are told to quarantine and isolate themselves from others. Often times this causes depression and sadness, especially for college students who normally have incredibly active social lives. But curcumin can help with this aspect of COVID-19 as well!

A study published back in 2017 suggests that curcumin may be helpful in treating depression. When given active drug treatments comprising variant doses of curcumin and combined curcumin/saffron, patients with major depressive disorder experienced an effective reduction in depressive and anxiolytic symptoms.

5 Life-Saving Nutritional Benefits of Turmeric

Toss in a few of those dissolvable zinc tablets and chewable vitamin C supplements, and you have a great COVID (or cold, or flu) support bag that your college student can take with them back to school!

It doesn’t matter how old our kids are, as parents, we still worry about their wellbeing and health. Knowing that they have everything they need to stay healthy and get better will be a great relief if they get sick. Get some supplies together for your older kids today!