Vitamin C! I want to start this off by saying something really important about how essential Vitamin C is for your health, but all I can think about is this Vitamin C. Remember her? That graduation song, man. It gets me every time. Class of 2005, never forget! 

Okay, real talk. Vitamin C is necessary/awesome because it

• supports a strong immune system
• reduces histamine levels
• helps in wound healing
• promotes eye health
• helps control free radicals
• and most importantly, it keeps you from getting Scurvy

Those are just a few facts I found with the help of my old pal Google- I’m sure there are lots of other benefits, too.

We take these in the mornings along with our flu-fighting gummies (for more about our daily health routine, check out this post). They have a real Creamsicle vibe to them, with just a little bite of acidity at the end. The kids love them and always ask for more.

The dosage of Vitamin C in each gummy will depend on the strength of your Vitamin C powder and the size of your gummies. A little math can tell you how much is in each gummy after you make them. We take 2 gummies a day.

I found my Vitamin C powder at Trader Joe’s, but you should be able to find it at any health food store or online. This is the easiest way (other than whole foods) to incorporate extra Vitamin C into our diet that I have found. Though my friend just told me about something called lipsomal Vitamin C, which is supposed to be better absorbed by the body, but I haven’t done any research on that yet. So for now, we’ll continue on with the gummies. If anyone has any experience with lipsomal Vitamin C, please hit me up in the comments or email me, I’d love to know more.

Don’t they just look so bright and yummy and cheery?

P.S. Congratulations to Samantha B. on winning the Beyond Bacon giveaway!

4.0 from 1 reviews

Orange Cream Vitamin C Gummies

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

5 mins

Total time

15 mins

 

Author: Oven Love

Recipe type: Snacks, Vitamins

Serves: 60

Ingredients

• 1½ cups orange juice, fresh squeezed if possible
• 4 tablespoons grass-fed gelatin
• 4 tablespoons raw honey
• 1 tablespoon Vitamin C powder
• ¼ teaspoon orange extract (optional)
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• pinch of sea salt

Instructions

1. Pour orange juice into a small saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin over the top and let sit for a few minutes until the gelatin blooms (all the white powder should be gone and it will swell up and start to look bumpy).
2. Heat the juice and gelatin over medium heat. Whisk in the honey, Vitamin C powder, orange extract (if using), vanilla extract and salt. Heat only until the gelatin is dissolved; do not boil.
3. Pour into molds or a loaf pan and let cool in the refrigerator until firm; about 3-4 hours.
4. Store in the refrigerator- they will last 2-3 weeks.

3.1.09

I have the sniffles.

And my little girl has a runny nose.

We haven’t had any sickness around here all winter, so I got to thinking about what might have changed in our habits in the past few weeks. Then it hit me- we were out of gummies!

It may seem trivial, but these gummies really make a difference for us. They are part of our daily routine during cold and flu season. Each morning, we all take:

• a few Cold/Flu gummies
• a few Vitamin C gummies
• a spoonful of Fermented Cod Liver Oil (We use the Cinnamon Tingle gel, refrigerated. The kids chase theirs with fresh juice and a chocolate chip, without complaint.)
• a small glass of my Apple Cider Vinegar concoction- a mix of raw ACV, fresh juice, filtered water, cinnamon and honey/stevia (This is optional, and we usually add this in when someone is showing symptoms)

We also use essential oils at bath time (usually lavender, citrus or eucalyptus) and for evening foot rubs (we use Thieves in a carrier oil). Might be silly, but it’s part of our routine now and it’s been working!

The powerhouse ingredient in the gummies is the Elderberry Syrup, known for strengthening the immune system. You can buy it pre-made or make it yourself. I inherited some homemade syrup from my sister-in-law, so I haven’t had to make it myself yet (thanks, Steph!). The tart cherry juice helps with sleep and the gelatin strengthens the gut lining. If you don’t like the tart cherry flavor or you can’t find it, you can substitute pomegranate juice, which is full of antioxidants. The raw honey and vanilla extract are optional, but I think they enhance the flavor and make the gummies more appealing for the little ones.

One batch poured into a loaf pan makes about 70-80 gummies for me, which lasts us quite a while, especially when we have other gummies to go along with them. I’d love to pick up some of those super cute silicon molds that I keep seeing on the internet, but I haven’t pulled the trigger.. I love these robot and dinosaur ones!

I know these gummies aren’t the key to health or a 100% guarantee to not getting sick this season, but every little step toward health can help. They’re yummy and my kids take them gladly, so I think we’ll be keeping them in the rotation for a while.

What about you? How do you prevent cold and flu from coming into your home? I’d love to hear your tips!

5.0 from 4 reviews

Cold and Flu Fighting Gummy Snacks

 

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Adapted from – http://www.realfoodrn.com/healthy-gummies-cold-flu-sleep/

Author: Natalie Herr

Recipe type: Snacks

Serves: 70

Ingredients

• 1¼ cups pure tart cherry juice and/or pure pomegranate juice
• 4 tablespoons grass-fed gelatin
• ¼ cup Elderberry Syrup
• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Heat ½ cup juice until bubbling.
2. Sprinkle gelatin over the remaining juice and let it bloom.
3. Combine the hot juice with the gelatin/juice mixture, then add the Elderberry Syrup, honey and vanilla extract. Whisk until well combined.
4. Pour into molds or a loaf pan. Chill in the refrigerator for 1-3 hours or until set.
5. Remove from molds or cut into small squares.
6. Makes 70-80 gummy snacks, depending on your molds or how large you cut them.

3.1.09