A note from Brooke Rieth, C-NP
I realize I am not starting this blog with the most optimistic headliner, but honestly, it has been almost 9 months of the year 2020… what do you want from me?? Ok, it’s not really that bleak here at Action Medicine, but I started this off worded the way I did because I want to be very clear that whether we are speaking about Covid-19 or the common cold, there is no magic pill. There is no secret curative supplement and despite doing everything right, you may still catch a viral infection. Before I discuss supplements, let’s start with some fundamentals. You need to make sure you are getting adequate sleep, eating healthful foods, staying hydrated, and practicing self-care.
Ok, on to the point of this blog, vitamins!
Let’s start with the common one, you know her, you love her, she’s in your favorite breakfast juice, Vitamin C. (side note, stop drinking juice, it has a ton of sugar. Eat the actual fruit.) Vitamin C has been studied quite a bit through the years. At this point, where the experts finally agree, is that while vitamin C will not cure you when you are ill, it has shown to help prevent contracting the illness in the first place. We do recommend, especially now, that our patients take a quality C vitamin daily.
Next on our list is one that you, living in New England, are probably deficient in. And that, my friends, is Vitamin D. This vitamin supports bone health, supports colon health, and has a role in immune function. In a study published in 2018, vitamin D deficiency was associated with an increased susceptibility of the common cold. We recommend our patients take a vitamin D supplement daily. Generally, you would synthesis vitamin D in the skin from the sun. But, let’s face it, our days are only getting shorter. We, the people in the northeast, need a little help.
I’ve saved this supplement for last. Why, you ask? Well, likely most people haven’t heard of it, so it will need a little explaining. The supplement is called Quercetin. It is a bioflavonoid. (great, that tells me nothing. What is a bioflavonoid?) A Bioflavonoid is a powerful antioxidant found in certain fruits, vegetables, and dark chocolate (yay!). It can help maintain a healthy immune system. But that’s not all this little supplement has up its sleeve.
Quercetin is being studied right now for its potential anti-viral properties with relation to Covid 19. Preliminary reports show it seems to be more effective when taken with vitamin C in assisting with prevention of the disease, or decreasing the severity once contracted.
We have combined a supplement trio of these helpful vitamins from Pure Encapsulations which is available.
Stay Well!!
Now, am I saying that if you take these supplements you won’t get sick, of course not. However, in a time where there is no cure and a vaccine is still many months away, taking something that won’t harm…but could help may be the best we can do right now.
