Stay Heathy This Winter with New Antimicrobial Povidone Iodine Throat and Nasal Sprays

We have some new iodine products in a throat spray and a nasal spray that I wanted to write about from a company called Cofix. They're unique, because the idea behind them is that they can be used preventably against microbes entering the body in a prophylactic way, helping to prevent infection by working to “deactivate a substantial portion of germs and pathogens” that come into the body through the nose and mouth.

The throat and our sinuses are in almost all cases how viruses and bacteria enter our bodies. The povidone iodine in our new Cofix sprays have long lasting antimicrobial effects in our bodies, and when used as a nasal spray or throat spray is meant to help protect against infections due to its antimicrobial benefits. The nose and throat are generally the first line of defense against bacteria and viruses from breathing in microbes from people nearby who might be sick. I feel like COVID made us all very aware of how bacteria and viruses can be transmitted from another person, obviously through coughs and sneezes, but also just breathing if they have a virus.

The most important thing we can do to stay healthy from whatever is going around each winter is by helping our own body's own immune system. Also, anything that can help to reduce the viral load, or the amount of a virus in our body, can be especially beneficial for helping our body to fight things off and stay healthy.

There has even been research done with these throat sprays on Covid patients, finding a significant reduction of incidents of contracting the illness for those who used it.

Do I think these povidone iodine sprays are 100% and that you'll never get sick? No, that would be amazing, but truly anything that reduces the likelihood of illness, whether it's cold, flu, respiratory infection, or whatever is a great thing. For me, a sore throat is always my first sign of illness, so I do believe this throat spray is a good idea. Knock on wood, I've been using it since the fall, and I do think it really works.

Iodine can impact the thyroid, both in people who are deficient and people who have excessive amounts of thyroid hormones. If you have thyroid disease or problems with your thyroid, we would recommend asking a doctor before starting this povidone iodine spray (something that's always a good idea for everyone regarding all supplements). Also, this antimicrobial iodine spray should be used sparingly, only a little is needed to be effective, more is not always better, so If you choose to try this Cofix spray, make sure you're only using the recommended amounts.

Stop in to see us at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights for more information.

New Affordable Probiotics by Natural Factors

We’ve brought in some great new probiotics that will be on sale every day, making them very affordable for a daily use probiotic. They're by Natural Factors, and most of them offer a two-month supply. They're great everyday probiotics, with good dosages for everyday use. Our favorite, their 12/12 probiotic, offers 12 billion probiotic strength over 12 different well researched strains, that we have on sale for $23.99 for a two-month supply. I feel like it's a good potency and a nice daily use probiotic. We still have a number of high potency products (True Grace's wonderful 90 billion strength probiotics for example), for people experiencing digestive issues or if you've been on antibiotics and need to replenish the good bacteria in your microbiome. I don't know that everyone needs to be taking a super high potency probiotic every day, however. It's certainly not a bad thing to do, but I think it's more important to have an affordable probiotic that has decent potency that can be used consistently.

I really like Natural Factors. They don't have the fanciest bottles or labels, but they really focus on quality. They have tons of top tier certifications for purity and transparency, and I honestly feel like they could price their products much higher than they do. They also work well with small businesses like us and are willing to offer us sales that we can pass on to our customers to further lower the prices.

I genuinely do believe in probiotics, but most of the benefits that I’ve read about talk about probiotic use over the long term. It's hard to spend a ton of money on a probiotic when the benefit is usually more far reaching versus something that you see right away like curcumin or theanine. I like these new probiotics by Natural Factors because I feel like they’re reasonable priced and are a good product that can be used every day without breaking the bank.

We should have these new probiotics on sale for at least this next 6 months, and hopefully we can continue the sale indefinitely. The 12/12 probiotic with 12 billion per capsule and 12 different strains is our favorite, but they also have a senior formula, a women's formula, and a whole variety of great probiotics that we brought in. The senior formula is really unique since it contains specific strains made to be beneficial for our digestive systems as we get older, since many feel like their digestive health can dramatically change as they get older.

Probiotics are great for digestion and the immune system which is what they're most known for, but new research is constantly coming out about the connection of digestion and our microbiome affecting so many different aspects of our health, from brain function and depression to even a new study I read today saying that probiotics helped with blood sugar control for people who were taking the prescription metformin. They're a really great thing for our overall health, and I would definitely recommend adding them to your daily regimen. Stop by the store so we can help you find the right product for your individual needs.

Two Little Known Supplements for Lung and Immune Health

I wanted to write about two little-known supplements that are great for lung health and the immune system- the amino acid NAC, and the antioxidant glutathione.

NAC

NAC is the abbreviated name for the amino acid n-acetyl-cystine. It’s a supplement with many benefits, but it’s especially helpful for lung health, particularly chronic lung issues. One of the ways NAC is helpful for lungs is by its ability to thin viscous lung and bronchial secretions, making breathing easier and improving lung function. It’s even been shown to help with increasing oxygen saturation in the blood in people with lung issues.

NAC is better when taken regularly for chronic lung issues like COPD (an inflammatory lung disease that damages the lungs and makes breathing difficult) and is shown in research to reduce disease flare-ups and also to make hospitalizations less likely. The benefits for chronic lung issues are due to both NAC's ability to thin lung secretions and mucus, but also in its ability to help reduce lung inflammation.

Regular use of NAC has also been shown to be beneficial for people with chronic bronchitis, reducing the severity and recurrence of attacks.

In addition to being fantastic for lung health, NAC is also great for the liver- it's even been used historically as a treatment for acetaminophen overdose. It's a potent antioxidant and is helpful for detoxing the body and would be a good supplement for anyone with lung issues to add to their daily regimen.

GLUTATHIONE

The other standout supplement I wanted to mention that I believe deserves more recognition is glutathione. Glutathione is produced in the body from a group of amino acids and is often referred to as the “master antioxidant” since it’s used by every cell in the body and can even help to recycle certain other antioxidant vitamins like vitamins C and E. It’s also very helpful for immune health since it can work to strengthen our immune responses to invaders like viruses and bacteria.

Even though glutathione can be made in the body, that ability is greatly reduced as we age, among other factors. Unfortunately, standard glutathione supplements have been shown in research to not be utilized very well in the body since they breaks down so quickly in the digestive tract. Up until recently that was still the best method to try to boost glutathione, but now, new lipomicellar technology has solved the absorption problem by creating a liquid micellar matrix with mirodroplets of glutathione, which makes it more stable in the digestive tract and also significantly increase absorption.

That’s all well and good, but the reason I wanted to specifically write about this new lipomicellar glutathione is because of new research showing that it’s able to enhance the immune system by boosting production and activity of key white blood cells like lymphocytes and natural killer cells to significantly improve immune functioning. In one study, people taking 500mg of a liposomal form of glutathione quadrupled their natural killer cell activity in only two weeks. Natural killer cells, or NK cells, are on the “front lines” of our immune response, they are the white blood cells that detect, target, and kill invading viruses. NK cells are also involved in the early responses against cancer and tumors, so enhancing our natural killer cells and their production is a fantastic way to care for our immune system and stay healthy. Interestingly, during the height of Covid, we had several physicians who had sent patients into our store to get glutathione to use in a nebulizer to help improve lung function and oxygen saturation. I wouldn’t suggest using glutathione in that manner without a doctor’s recommendation, but I am glad that more physicians are finding natural approaches to keep their patients healthy.

Additionally, higher levels of glutathione in the body have also been linked to improved brain function and a reduction in inflammation throughout the body, as well as a reduction in oxidative stress.

Stop by the store for more information. We have a great selection of natural immune products to help you stay healthy! We’re at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights.

Supplements for a Healthy "Back to School"

There are a number of supplements that can be particularly beneficial as we look ahead to school starting in August, especially for young adults going away to college. It's a good idea to gather up a daily supplement care package for them to take with them to help "cover the bases".

These are a good place to start:

Multivitamins
A multivitamin can be a good idea especially for kids or young adults who might not have the best diet. I know my daughter does not eat as well as I wish she would, so I feel like a multivitamin helps to fill in the gaps. Of course, a multivitamin is not a replacement for a healthy diet, but it makes me feel better that at least she's getting the nutrients she needs. Bluebonnet has a nice easy to swallow one a day multivitamin that's gentle and food based. Since it's food-based it's not mega doses of anything, but rather just the amounts that are needed. We also have chewable vitamins or gummies for children or young adults who don't like to swallow pills.

Omega 3s
Omega 3s are what are known as essential fatty acids, meaning they're literally essential to the proper functioning of our bodies, especially for brain health. The main dietary source of omega 3 is eating fish, which most kids and young adults do not eat very much of. Supplementing with omega 3s can help with proper brain function, concentration, and even help with balancing mood. Omega 3s can't be manufactured in the body so they must be obtained through either diet or supplements. You know your kids, if they aren't eating fish, they're probably deficient in omega 3s, and one of the ways that manifests is by trouble concentrating, problems with focus, and even poor impulse control. Ensuring that your kids have a proper amount of omega 3 is a good idea just to make sure their bodies (and brains!) have what they need to be running properly.

Most omega 3 supplements are derived from fish, but we do have vegetarian sources available at the store as well. We have omega 3s in softgels, a good tasting refrigerated liquid by Barlean's, and a new gummy by Life Extension with good omega 3 potency. In general, chewables or gummies can sometimes have pretty low potencies especially when it comes to omega 3s, but we have some great ones to choose from.

Anxiety
Many young adults, and even kids since it's unfortunately happening younger and younger, have a lot of anxiety especially when looking forward to school starting. There are a number of supplements that can be really beneficial for helping young adults and kids to feel less stressed and anxious.

The amino acid theanine is one we especially recommend since it can not only help with reducing stress and anxiety but also aid in increasing focus. It can be used during the day to help with stress or before bed to help with sleep. Theanine does not make you feel tired, but it can help with improving sleep quality because it can make a person less anxious before bed.

Passionflower is a great supplement for anxiety for young adults and college students. Research at Mount Sinai found that daily use of passion flower was as effective as a prescription drug commonly used for generalized anxiety disorder.

Another supplement that we really love is Solgar's Stress and Anxiety relief. It's a one-a-day tablet that would be great for college students since it contains ashwagandha, which is great for helping with daily stress along with saffron, which is an antioxidant that is helpful for boosting mood.

For younger kids, we probably recommend sticking with theanine (an amino acid found in green tea that's been found to be safe for all ages), but for older young adults and college students, passion flower, ashwagandha, or saffron can be beneficial.

Immune Health
If you're sending your college student away to school, it's a good idea to send them with something for their immune system. Younger kids would benefit from taking something to boost the immune system once they start school as well since it's very common to get sick once all the kids are together and sharing their germs. For older young adults and college students the product Immuno Shield by Irwin Naturals is a great blend of natural immune boosters that can be used preventatively but also in higher doses if one starts to feel sick. For younger kids, we have elderberry syrup, which is a natural antiviral, and elderberry gummies which are a great (and good tasting) preventative that combine the antiviral elderberry extract with zinc, a mineral that's great for the immune system.


Other suggestions of things to think about are would be probiotics or digestive enzymes for stomach troubles if your kids have a sensitive stomach. Also magnesium can be for helpful for muscle aches, preventing headaches, and constipation


Stop in the store for more information or personalized recommendations, we’re at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights.

Favorite Brand Spotlight (and Sale!): Natural Factors

This month I wanted to write about one of our favorite companies. They don’t have fancy labels, but they do have great products at a good price- Natural Factors. They’re a family owned business that really cares about their products and ingredients- they have their own farms where they grow and harvest herbs and supplement ingredients for their products using heirloom, non-GMO seeds. When they aren’t able to source their own ingredients from their own farm, they have partners where environmental sustainability and purity are paramount. The company also supports a number of philanthropic environmental causes and are founding patrons of the Plant A Seed & See What Grows Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to create opportunities for children to personally experience and be inspired by the natural world around them, that includes funding for school gardens, healthy school breakfast programs, farm visits, and reading programs.

Quite a few of their items are our top recommended products for different categories, often because they’re such a great deal. They have “buy one, get one free” two packs of CoQ10, ubiquinol (the active form of CoQ10), Vitamin D3, and more. They also have the best quercetin (a supplement for respiratory health and the immune system) on the market currently- a liposomal quercetin that’s significantly better absorbed than regular quercetin. I take the Natural Factors vitamin D, CoQ10, and liposomal quercetin every day.

We’re also featuring them this month because we have a limited amount of “Immunity Kits” that we’re offering at a great price as a thank you to our customers. It’s a one month kit that has 30 count bottles of their liposomal quercetin, vitamin D3, zinc, and a time release vitamin C that we’ve put on sale for just $19.99- it’s an amazing deal, since the regular price of a month’s supply of the liposomal quercetin alone is almost $30.

We wanted to offer it to our customers so it’s easier (and more affordable!) for everyone to stay healthy through this winter. Quercetin, vitamin D, vitamin C, and zinc are really the top supplements needed to stay healthy. We also thought it might be a nice gift for friends and family to help them stay healthy without having to spend a fortune.

Stop by to pick up one of our new Natural Factors Immunity Kits while supplies last, and stay healthy!

We’re at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights.

A Great New Product for Coughs

Coughing is the worst, especially since it can linger for weeks after having a respiratory infection.

We have a new product by Terry Naturally that I've really been impressed with for coughs, called Bronchial Clear-it's a combination of thyme and ivy extract, both of which have impressive benefits for respiratory health.

Its main ingredient is ivy leaf, which is not very well known as a supplement in the US, but has some really impressive benefits for respiratory health. Even though it is not very well known in America as a supplement, it has been used medicinally for thousands of years safely.

Ivy extract is great for respiratory health because studies have shown that it can help to reduce inflammation in the lungs and also help to dissolve excess mucus.

When I was doing research into the benefits of ivy leaf for respiratory infections, I found research comparing ivy leaf's effectiveness to a prescription, saying it was "as effective as the prescription Ambroxol for chronic bronchitis". That really piqued my interest because I am a person who often seems to get a cough whenever I get sick, so I'm defiantly familiar with every prescription for coughs and respiratory infections, but I'd never heard of Ambroxol. It turns out that Ambroxol is a medication for respiratory infections that usually prescribed in Europe, but apparently isn't FDA-approved.

After reading about that, I went down a rabbit hole of why that prescription for lung infections wasn't FDA approved (since often Europe has a lot more stringent regulations than the US), but it seems it's not because it isn't an effective treatment, but that the patent had expired and it wouldn't be worth it financially for an American company to pay for the costly FDA approval process.

All of this to say that ivy extract has benefits shown to be equal to European medications for respiratory infections for coughing, helping the body to clear excess mucus, easing coughs and improving lung function.

In addition to ivy extract, the Bronchial Clear product also has thyme extract, an herb that’s fantastic for respiratory health since it can help clear mucus from the lungs and reduce lung inflammation. It’s even shown benefit for people suffering from COPD, an irreversible lung disorder where people experience problems breathing due to inflammation in the airways. The active ingredients in thyme extract also show benefits for having natural anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.

I've taken Bronchial Clear by Terry Naturally and really thought it helped. I definitely won't be without it from now on in the winter. We also have a kid’s cough syrup with ivy extract at the store from Garden of Life that we'd recommend, since a lingering cough can be an awful thing for anyone to deal with, at any age.

Stop by the store if you have any questions, we’d be happy to help you further. We’re at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights.

Let's all stay healthy!

I was trying to save writing an article about keeping healthy and the immune system for closer to the fall, since I feel like that's usually when people get sick versus in the summer, but it seems like lately there are so many people coming down with Covid, I wanted to do an article for this month's newsletter.

I'd say things are definitely better than they were, and maybe this is just the new normal. Today it seems, for most people that Covid isn't horribly serious (thankfully!), although it's not great. When I had Covid this spring, it was over two weeks before I was back to normal, and it was pretty miserable. We still have people who come into the store on a regular basis complaining of symptoms that have lasted for months, especially loss of taste or smell, so doing what we can to give ourselves the best chance of staying healthy definitely seems like a good idea.

Fortunately, there are supplements that we feel can really make a difference in the battle to stay healthy, especially as we get closer to autumn and with school starting.

The top supplement we'd probably recommend is quercetin, a plant compound found in small amounts in many fruits and vegetables. Quercetin is a potent antioxidant and in the past has been a supplement frequently taken for allergies to reduce histamine levels.

The reason we'd recommend quercetin now for staying healthy is that it helps the immune system in a way unique to other supplements. Research has shown that quercetin helps to prevent viruses from being able to enter and infect cells as well as slowing viral replication, and has been studied with a number of different serious viruses with good results. Our immune system being able to overcome viruses (whether it’s Covid, flu, or just a cold) is the only way we stay healthy, and slowing the rate that a virus can proliferate in your body can make it easier to fight off.

Quercetin works by giving your immune system a better chance of stopping an infection before we even know we have it.

I definitely believe in quercetin, though recent research has shown that it can be somewhat difficult for the body to absorb and utilize, so we’ve found a new quercetin supplement by Natural Factors that is significantly better absorbed (up to 10 times more than regular quercetin supplements) since it uses a patent pending technology to make the quercetin into micro-droplets suspended in a liquid softgel to enhance absorption. I’ve switched my quercetin to this new liquid form, and would definitely recommend that everyone else do so as well.

In addition to quercetin, we’d also say adding zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin C to your daily regimen would be a good idea.

Interestingly, it’s been found that vitamin C increases the effectiveness of quercetin and vice versa, so it's a smart idea to take those two supplements together. Vitamin C helps to enhance the functioning of the white blood cells of our immune system, which are the first line of defense against bacteria or viruses that enter our body. We particularly recommend the Ester C form of the vitamin since it’s gentle on the stomach and stays at work longer in our cells than regular vitamin C. Most people aren’t getting enough vitamin C in their diets through fresh fruits, so supplemental vitamin C can help to fill in that gap.

Vitamin D is also great for the immune system. It’s made in our body when our skin is exposed to sunlight. I’m out in the sun a lot in the summer, so I usually stop taking vitamin D supplements when it’s hot out, but if you aren’t outside very much it’s probably a good idea to supplement with vitamin D, especially as we get closer to fall. Additionally, even though it’s made in our skin, wearing sunscreen or having a darker skin tone can make it harder for the body to make vitamin D, so those are also things to consider. Research on Covid patients has found that people who had the lowest levels of vitamin D levels had much more severe illness, which no one wants, so supplementing is a simple way to keep yourself healthy (it’s a tiny, inexpensive pill). Vitamin D is also helpful for bones and calcium absorption, so it’s always a favorite supplement of ours.

The last in our list of top recommended immune supplements is zinc. Zinc is also a tiny, inexpensive pill, and it’s been found that most people aren’t getting nearly enough zinc in their diets. Zinc has been shown in research to have a protective effect against respiratory viruses but it also appears to have a regulating effect on the immune system, helping to prevent inflammation and also helping the body’s response to infection.

None of these are new supplements (with the exception of the new form of quercetin), and they’re the same supplements that we’ve been recommending through this entire crazy time, but now is probably a good idea to start a supplement regimen if you’re gotten out of the habit.

We currently have the new liquid gel quercetin, Ester C, and Vitamin D on sale at the store, so it’s a good time to stock up for fall and winter.

Stop by and see us at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights so we can help you find the supplements that are right for you! We have a kind and knowledgeable staff to help with any questions you may have.

Quercetin for Immune Health

I wanted to briefly write about quercetin, a plant compound found in small amounts in many fruits and vegetables. Quercetin is a potent antioxidant and in the past has been a supplement frequently taken for allergies to reduce histamine levels. Interestingly, quercetin also has potent antiviral benefits, which is why it has recently become quite a popular supplement.

Quercetin is not a new or experimental supplement. It has been used for many years and has an excellent safety profile.

Research has shown that quercetin helps to prevent viruses from being able to enter and infect cells as well as slowing viral replication, and has been studied with a number of different serious viruses with good results (it was even researched with the Ebola virus back in 2016). Even though Covid is what’s foremost on everyone’s radar at the moment, it is not the only respiratory virus going around this year. I know several different people who were quite sick this year, but had negative Covid PCR tests; I only mention that because just like any other year, there are a host of viruses going around this winter, not just Covid, so doing what we can to stay healthy is always a good idea.

Dr. Paul E. Marik, MD, chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia spoke about quercetin, saying "If you have something that is potentially beneficial, safe, and cheap, what do you have to lose?"

One of the reasons that quercetin may be beneficial against Covid and other viruses is that it may help to reduce viral load, making illness easier for the body to fight off. Our bodies are constantly fighting off invading viruses that we come in contact with as we go about our daily lives. If our body’s immune system is able to fight off those attacks, we stay healthy; it’s when the body is overwhelmed by those invading viruses that we fall ill. Research has shown that quercetin is able to help prevent viruses from replicating and infecting cells, and those benefits have been shown in both in vitro and in vivo studies for a variety of viruses including the common cold. Let me be clear, quercetin is not a magical cure for anything, but I do believe it can help our immune systems to work better to fight off whatever viruses we may come across.

Interestingly, it’s been found that vitamin C increases the effectiveness of quercetin and vice versa, so it's a smart idea to take those two supplements together.

It’s a supplement with good science behind it, and something that has been shown to be safe to take and has been used for many years, so I’d recommend adding it to your supplement regimen this winter along with Vitamin D, Zinc, and Vitamin C.

Vitamin D is a vitamin that’s made in our skin in response to sunlight, but most people are not getting much sun on their skin in the cold weather, which is why our vitamin D levels are usually a lot lower in the winter. Research on Covid patients has found that people who had the lowest levels of vitamin D levels had much more severe illness, which no one wants, so supplementing is a simple way to keep yourself healthy (it’s a tiny, inexpensive pill). Vitamin D is also helpful for bones and calcium absorption, so it’s always a favorite supplement of ours.

Zinc is a mineral that’s also great for the immune system, and most people aren’t getting nearly enough zinc in their diets. Zinc has been shown in research to have a protective effect against respiratory viruses but it also appears to have a regulating effect on the immune system, helping to prevent inflammation and also helping the body’s response to the Coronavirus and other viruses.

Vitamin C helps to enhance immune cell functioning, and we especially recommend the Ester-C form since it has been shown to stay active in the body longer that regular vitamin C. It’s also a non-acidic form of vitamin C that’s gentle on the stomach. The majority of people who had severe Covid symptoms, including critically ill patients, were low in vitamin C. Vitamin C is easily obtained from fresh fruits and vegetables, but unfortunately most American diets are not getting the recommended amounts of fresh product every day, so supplements can be helpful.

Keep in mind, we are not physicians, but each of these supplements has been used for many years to help with immune health, which is even more important this year.

Staying Healthy in 2022

Staying healthy is something we always think about, but the past few weeks I'd say have everyone a little worried since for many of us the number of people we personally know who have gotten sick is definitely increasing, including people who have been vaccinated. We aren't physicians, but from the research available, we definitely feel like everyone should be taking vitamin D, zinc, vitamin C (in the Ester C form), quercetin, and maybe melatonin. Those are all supplements that have been used and recommended for immune and respiratory health for years, and we'd say it's especially important to keep up on that supplement regimen now.

Vitamin D is a vitamin that’s made in our skin in response to sunlight, but most people are not getting much sun on their skin in the cold weather, which is why our vitamin D levels are usually a lot lower in the winter. Research on Covid patients has found that people who had the lowest levels of vitamin D levels had much more severe illness, which no one wants, so supplementing is a simple way to keep yourself healthy (it’s a tiny, inexpensive pill). Vitamin D is also helpful for bones and calcium absorption, so it’s always a favorite supplement of ours.

Zinc is a mineral that’s also great for the immune system, and most people aren’t getting nearly enough zinc in their diets. Zinc has been shown in research to have a protective effect against respiratory viruses but it also appears to have a regulating effect on the immune system, helping to prevent inflammation and also helping the body’s response to the Coronavirus.

Vitamin C helps to enhance immune cell functioning, and the Ester-C form has been shown to stay active in the body longer than regular vitamin C. It’s also a non-acidic form of vitamin C that’s gentle on the stomach.

Quercetin is a plant compound found in many fruits and vegetables. It’s often used for allergies, but it also has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the body and has been shown to be beneficial against viruses. Part of why it works so well is that it’s been shown to can calm down the body’s overactive inflammatory response to viruses as well as helping to prevent viruses from replicating in the body.

Melatonin is usually known as a sleep supplement, but research has shown that melatonin can help with regulating the immune system and has anti-inflammatory effects. One recent large-scale study found that melatonin significantly reduced the risk of death in Covid patients that had been intubated and has also been recommended as a supplement to reduce the severity of Covid symptoms. For immune health we’d suggest using a time-release form before bed and also starting with a lower dose like 2-3 milligrams a day (sometimes if a person starts taking a higher dose without using melatonin previously, they can have sleep disturbances or strange dreams). Here’s a great study on melatonin and Covid-19.

Things are a bit crazy at the moment, but I think we all need to remember that this won't last forever; we just need to get through it.

Physician Recommended Supplements for COVID Prevention

A year ago, by now, I thought Covid would be a thing of the past. With this new Delta variant, it seems we are not out of the woods yet, though I remain hopeful that things will get better. The nasty thing about the Delta variant is that it is much more contagious, and it appears that vaccinated people can also spread the virus and become infected (though generally with a milder case, thankfully). It’s frustrating, because I think we’re all tired of this virus and restrictions and everything else.

I recently read recommendations by a group of physicians who study this virus who have published new supplement regimens that they have deemed as effective for both prevention and mild cases. I’ll mention the relevant recommendations below.

For prevention, they recommend the following: 1,000-3,000mg of vitamin D3 daily, 500-1000mg of vitamin C twice a day, 250mg of quercetin, 30-40mg of zinc, and 6mg of melatonin.

Now, none of these are groundbreaking- they’re the supplements we’d always recommend for the immune system, with the exception of quercetin which is a lesser-known supplement. Still, I just checked on our website (passhealthfoods.com) to check the date, and there’s one of my articles on there from June of 2014 about quercetin. The article goes on to say how great quercetin is for viruses and how it can calm down the inflammatory response to viruses as well as how research has shown it can prevent them from replicating. So as I said, none of these are new supplements, though I’m glad that their benefits are hopefully becoming more well known!

They also recommend taking vitamin C twice a day, which I feel like is kind of a hassle for most people (more the fact of just remembering it two times a day). We have a special type of vitamin C at the store known as Ester-C which has been shown in research to stay active in the body longer than regular vitamin C, so if you use that form we’d say it’s probably comparable to using a regular vitamin C twice a day. It’s also a non-acidic form that’s gentle on the stomach (sometimes high doses of vitamin C can bother people’s stomachs).

Melatonin seems strange to be on the list, since it’s usually known as a sleep supplement, but research has shown that melatonin can help with regulating the immune system and has anti-inflammatory effects. One recent large scale study found that melatonin significantly reduced the risk of death in Covid patients that had been intubated. The Physicians do specifically recommend using a time release formula for maximum effectiveness. Even though melatonin is frequently used for sleep, high doses can sometimes cause sleep disturbances or weird dreams in some people. To prevent those possible side effects, it’s recommended to start with a lower dose and increase gradually.

Zinc and vitamin D3 are of course on the list since they’re both great for the immune system, and we’ve always recommended them during the colder months of the year for staying healthy. Vitamin D has been reported as being incredibly important since the beginning of the pandemic since it has been found that people with low vitamin D levels are much more likely to die from Covid than people with higher levels. Zinc works to help prevent viral replication, which is why it’s often seen as beneficial against any viruses.

The nice thing about the list of supplements that they’re recommending for Covid prevention is that they’re all affordably priced (in fact, I think we have all of them marked down on “every day sale” at our store). Also, all of them are well known vitamins or supplements that have been used safely for many years.

The doses recommended above are for adults, but we do also have children’s supplements available in good tasting natural chewables or gummies for vitamin D3, vitamin C, zinc, and melatonin.

Finally, I’d definitely urge everyone who hasn’t to get vaccinated. I know that sounds strange from a health food store owner, but we do really care about people and don’t want anyone to experience suffering that could be preventable. We had one of our good customers pass away from Covid not that long ago. He was a healthy, vibrant man, and yet when he contracted Covid he became extremely sick and never recovered. I feel like so many people think that since they’re younger or healthy, they’ll be fine, but the thing is, you never know. You don’t know how your body will react to this illness, which is now so easily spread. It breaks my heart to think of the people whose lives have been permanently altered because of this disease. Please take care of yourselves, and do what you can to stay healthy.