Page 13 - Staying Well and Feeling Good - Q4 2021

There’s some evidence that echinacea has
a slight benefit in preventing colds and that goldenseal may help you recover from bacterial and viral infections.
However, a registered dietitian is more likely to recommend getting enough vitamins, like B6, C, and E. These vitamins have a well-established track record of helping you maintain a healthy immune system. And since your immune system does the actual work of fighting off infections, it just makes sense to give it the fuel it needs.
Vitamin D also helps support your immune system, and there’s plenty of evidence that it helps prevent acute respiratory infections. (By the way, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci also recommends taking vitamin D to help maintain healthy immunity.)
Are There Certain Diets That May Leave You Nutritionally Deficient?
• Vegetarian/vegan diets can leave you deficient in B12, vitamin D, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, iron, calcium, and zinc.
• Paleo diets can result in calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D deficiencies.
• Atkins diets may not provide enough B vitamins, magnesium, and fiber.
• Keto diets put you at risk of selenium, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins B and C deficiencies.
If you’re on one of these diets, vitamin and mineral supplementation is a good idea.
To Summarize...
Taking certain supplements may be advisable if you know that you, or your diet, lack certain vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients. If
you suspect that you’re deficient in some nutrient(s), it’s better to check with your doctor or see a nutritionist before starting on a supplement regimen. Otherwise, if you just start taking supplements blindly, you may risk getting too much of something.
And if you do choose to take multivitamins or other over-the-counter nutritional supplements, do your research first. They can interact badly with each other and/or with medicines that you’re taking. Also, all supplements aren’t created equal, and some may even contain dangerous ingredients.
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