Nature's Cookbook for Cold and Flu Season

NORTH BERGEN, N.J., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- As cold and flu season approaches, millions of Americans begin stocking up their medicine cabinet with tissues, throat lozenges and the latest over-the-counter medications to prepare for the inevitable unpleasantness that is associated with this time of year.

But many might be surprised to learn that some of the best remedies against Mother Nature's winter wrath might in fact use her own natural wares against her.

"If you walk into any drug store you'll see dozens of cold and flu medications, but these drugs simply treat the symptoms, instead of preventing them in the first place," said Dave Foreman, registered pharmacist and member of The Vitamin Shoppe Health Advisory Board. "Consumers' use of natural products for their everyday needs continues to grow, and many of the latest natural supplements take a page from nature's cookbook to boost the body's immune system and help fight other winter ills."

According to Foreman, the latest natural trends in combating cold and flu include:

     -- Spicing Up Your Immunity:  Oregano is most commonly associated with a
        steaming bowl of pasta and sauce.  However, oregano also has immune
        boosting power.  Oregano extract -- which comes in oil or in capsule
        forms -- can help boost the body's natural immune system, and also
        support respiratory health.

     -- Fighting with Fungi:  Known for centuries for their medicinal
        properties, mushrooms are used by the immune system to help the body
        strengthen itself, and can help a wintertime assault; extracts from
        common mushrooms like maitake are used in many natural products to
        support the body's natural defense mechanisms.

     -- Berry Goodness:  Berries are known for their rich antioxidant
        properties. Sambucus, a black elderberry extract that contains
        antioxidants and flavanoids, can be used once a cold sets in.

     -- Teas from Trees:  The barking cough commonly experienced during a cold
        or the flu that leads to throat irritation can be helped with -- what
        else -- tree bark.  Specifically, a steaming cup of tea containing a
        small quantity of slippery elm bark can be used to help sooth the sore
        throat resulting from that nasty cough.

"These natural alternatives can be helpful for both adults and children. With the recent FDA recommendation about children under six avoiding over-the- counter cold medicines, these trends can be worthwhile for parents to consider. While supplements can help, consumers should always consult with their doctor or health care professional on treating a cold or the flu," said Foreman.

About Vitamin Shoppe Industries, Inc.

Vitamin Shoppe is a leading specialty retailer and direct marketer of nutritional products based in North Bergen, New Jersey. The company sells vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, herbs, sports nutrition formulas, homeopathic remedies, and other health and beauty aids to customers located primarily in the United States. The company carries national brand products as well as exclusive products under the Vitamin Shoppe, BodyTech, MD Select, and VS Basics proprietary brands. The Vitamin Shoppe conducts business through more than 300 company-owned retail stores, national mail order catalogs, and two websites, www.vitaminshoppe.com and www.Bodytech.com.

About Dave Foreman, RPh

Registered Pharmacist Dave Foreman's mission is to educate as many people as possible about the benefits of natural health and healing. Dave is a graduate of the University of South Carolina-College of Pharmacy and has practiced as a traditional pharmacist for the past 16 years. His weekly radio program, "The Herbal Pharmacist(R)", is broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio.