Getting sick sucks. And getting sick gets way worse once you become a mom… It’s like everyone in the house forgets how you cooked them soup, spoon-fed them Jello-O, and soothed them patiently when they whined for the 17th time that they were simply dyyyyyying. {That’s usually the man of the house…} But you get sick, and everyone goes about their business. Ah, motherhood. This winter I ended up with a particularly nasty sickness – Whooping Cough. I’d been sick for over a week, and the coughing got crazy. I finally headed to the ER after a night where a coughing fit lasted over an hour… I found out that I’d even fractured a rib from the extreme coughs. Crazy, right? {Get your whooping cough booster shot if you haven’t yet – I didn’t even know about it!} So – Like many of the yucky sicknesses you get during the winter months, I had to take antibiotics. And the problem with antibiotics is that while they’re working to fight off those yucky dangerous bacteria, they can also kill off the GOOD bacteria in your system, the good guys that keep your system healthy and running in top shape. And for a lot of us, that can mean new problems, like new infections or tummy troubles. But – A simple remedy for that is to take a probiotic every time you take an antibiotic. I take them EVERY day too, keep reading to learn why…

Health Tip for Women: Stay Healthy this Winter Cold Season and Beyond

First – you might be wondering, “What the heck IS a probiotic??” Well, they’re live microorganisms that you take to benefit your health. You’ll find some yogurts that contain probiotics, but an easy way to get the right amount is take a supplement daily. There are quite a few on the market – but there’s one that I personally prefer, since it’s made just for women. It’s called Provella, and while it’s a great choice to take when you get sick and need to boost your system while you take a course of antibiotics – it’s also a seriously awesome way to keep your body healthy all year long.

Why Probiotics are an awesome choice for women

I started out by just taking probiotics when I’d get sick – I don’t tolerate antibiotics very well, and seemed to always end up feeling awful while I took them. My doctor had recommended that I try them, and I was amazed at what a difference it made. {TMI moment: Did you know that chicks are likely to get a yeast infection while or right after taking antibiotics? Again, from the antibiotics changing the balance of bacteria in your system. Probiotics help with this issue too – Especially Provella, since it’s a probiotic made specifically for women.}

Provella is designed for women to promote digestive, feminine, and immune health.

How to use it – take a pill once daily, for about two weeks. If you’re used to suffering from any type of tummy troubles like IBS, bloating and cramping, or other problems, you’ll seriously see a difference by that time. {I was diagnosed with IBS in my 20’s, and probiotics are the ONLY thing that ever helped.} Or – if you get sick this winter, when you head to the pharmacy to pick up your prescription for antibiotics, grab a box of Provella while you’re there – you can get it over-the-counter. I promise, you’ll thank me! I know several friends like me who have gotten sick from other problems while on antibiotics, who know SWEAR by taking probiotics at the same time. Or ask your doctor – I know they’ll agree. It’s a huge help!

Save $6 on Provella with this coupon – or find them on Drugstore.com!

{Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Provella. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Photo Credit: Anna Gutermuth on Flickr.