Expert tips on how to boost immunity, fight allergies, low energy and keep your mood changes under control. Here is a short review of the best nutritional supplements to keep you and your family healthy this fall and beyond.
Fall is the time to pull out the wool sweaters, cozy up with family and sip warm drinks instead of cold. For some of us, though, it’s also the time for runny noses, decreasing energy and even depressions. During this seasonal transition, eating well and exercising may not be enough to keep you feeling and performing at your best. In this article we focus on four common health complaints during the fall and winter and provide expert recommendations for dietary supplements that can help.
Immunity
No sooner do the leaves start changing than noses start running. There’s a spike in illness. Falls is the bussiest time when we go back to school, and in business we have to make up for the summer slacking. The cooler months of people gathering indoors lets germs spread are more readily causing for more colds, flus and fatigue to be produced.
According to Paul Dell’Aquila, M.D., with RWJ Barnabas Health of New Jersey: ‘’ A key factor to stay healthy during fall & winter is the gut health,’’ This may surprise some but makes sense when you consider that 80 percent of your immune system is located in your digestive tract. In addition to a daily Probiotic with at least 1 billion CFU of active ingredients (or live bacteria), he suggests Vitamin D, Omega-3 fish oil and a High-potency Multivitamin to boost immunity.
To keep kids healthy, pedeatricians emphasize on avoiding sugar, which can compromise young immune systems, and he suggests that kids take a daily children’s multivitamin or gummies supplements such as Black Elderberry +Vitamin C gummies.
Allergies
As a rule, allergies are associated with springtime when everything is blooming, but virtually fall also triggers allergies for a number of people. Dying leaves and plants release allergic substances and, when wet, can emit mold spores, according to Paul Dell’Aquila.
Dell’Aquila suggests easing allergy symptoms by treating the cause: inflammation. The following supplements are all proven to reduce the body’s inflammatory response: Quercetin (a flavonoid found in plants), Aged-garlic (a supplement, not old garlic), Turmeric with ginger .
Energy Defficiency
Fall’s waning daylight decreases not only our vitamin D but also your melatonin levels. Too little melatonin can disturb your sleep cycle and ultimately lead to fatigue, says Dell’Aquila. Additionally, people tend to rev up in the fall with holiday activities and parenting responsibilities that can leave them feeling worn out.
Dell’Aquila advises starting with diet for increased energy. “Multiple small meals of good protein, complex carbohydrates and good fats are a great way to improve energy and feel great. A diet high in simple sugars will cause a spike first in your blood sugar and then insulin, causing the common post-lunch crash that many people experience,” he says.
In addition to eating right, he suggests a High-potency Multivitamin and L- Arginine and D-ribose, which are associated with increasing energy.
Dean turns to Magnesium for energy. “ Without magnesium you don’t have energy. Also magnesium relaxes muscles so you are no longer tense or tired from being tense. It helps you sleep deeply, so you are more rested and therefore have more energy.
Swinging Moods
For many people fall brings mood changes like the blues. One likely culprit is, again, decreased daylight resulting in lower levels of vitamin D, which effects serotonin function that’s key in regulating your mood. In addition to vitamin D, Dell’Aquila recommends the combination of Vitamin K2 + D3. It helps to increase serotonin levels. A B-complex is important, as the B vitamins help produce neurotransmitters in our bodies. Magnesium & Ashwagandha can ease anxiety and provide stress relief.
No matter which supplement you choose, It’s important to consult with a health practitioner familiar with these supplements before taking them.
