We can not turn on the news without being reminded of the importance of our health. We hope to strengthen our immunity in hopes of preventing illness. As a physician I think this is an important time to look beyond simply avoiding COVID. Something we have learned from the pandemic thus far is that those who are most vulnerable to this virus are those with other underlying conditions.
Perhaps now is also an ideal time to look towards improving or reducing those other conditions. This can not only make us less susceptible to the effects of COVID, but also help us prevent other health concerns moving forward. These conditions, namely heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity can each take great tolls on American lives each year. This year is no different, just worse.
So do vitamins play a role in reducing risk factors and improving overall health? They most certainly can, but the difficulty is knowing who should be taking which vitamins and in which doses. Just as we are not all the same in the medical illnesses we develop, we are not all the same in our vitamin needs. We each eat different diets, have different lifestyle and have different symptoms and health concerns.
Someone with diabetes may benefit from more vitamin D3, due to its role in modulating blood sugar, while someone with high blood pressure may derive benefit from magnesium. Those with cardiac risk factors may take omega3s to reduce risk.. Who you are determines what vitamins you need and in which doses. Many of us looking to support our immune health may benefit from vitamin C. Iron and certain B vitamins can also be important to some depending on their diet.
So how can you easily determine what vitamins to take? The best way to find the right vitamins is with a personalized vitamin. An online vitamin quiz that includes questions about who you are, your habits and your health needs is a wonderful way to get exactly what you need. A doctor created personalized vitamin can ensure that you are taking medically sound vitamins which are not excessive and potentially dangerous, but are also effective in helping to better your overall health and feel your best.
Vitamins are of course not the only steps we should be taking to achieve our health goals. Now is a terrific time to work on a healthful and balanced diet (we are fans of a Mediterranean diet), a regular exercise routine (no gym? Go take a brisk walk) and of course quitting smoking is always an impactful step toward better health. The COVID crisis has kept many of us away from our regular preventive health visits and now may be the time to get caught up these tasks (depending on your local situation in regards to the pandemic). Taking a personalized vitamin can be a simple step to start improve your overall health. Don’t let COVID get the best of you, instead come out the other side of this pandemic healthier than when it began. Take this strange time as an opportunity to adapt healthier, practical habits that will last you a life time.