7 supplements to help you survive and thrive this year

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Staying healthy is at the top of everyone’s to-do lists and between the pandemic, regular coughs, colds and flu, we’ve got our work cut out for us this winter season.

When it comes to cold and flu season, a lot of us tend to wait until we’re already sick to start taking action. Laurie Cook, licensed pharmacist and CEO of VTMN Packs, told Yahoo Lifestyle Canada that there is a lot that can be done to prevent getting sick in the first place.

“It’s never too late to take steps towards building a healthy immune system and some of the easiest things include focusing your diet on whole food nutrition while minimizing sugar and other inflammatory foods, keeping an eye on your stress levels and prioritizing sleep,” Cook suggested. “Try and incorporate even a small amount of exercise into your daily routine, but be sure to rest if you are feeling unwell and stay home. We all need to do our part to minimize the spread of germs, now more than ever.”

Cook said that we’re going to see a “complicated cold and flu season” going into 2021 and “now more than ever it’s important to continue with your self-care practices in order to help maintain health and improve immunity.”

She shared some important tips to help avoid catching a cold this year. “A lot of us are doing it already, wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently and properly, avoiding close contact and crowded places, covering your cough or sneezes and cleaning and disinfecting high touch point surfaces can help reduce the spread of germs,” Cook said. “It’s important to keep these good practices up as we get into the thick of cold and flu season.”

In regards to supplements, Cook said that they should be considered as an extension to an already healthy diet and it’s important to focus on quality. “When selecting a supplement, be sure to always read the label! Look for supplements in their activated and most absorbable forms, choose products that are free from artificial dyes and fillers, where possible, choose capsules over tablets, and look for products that are non-GMO and that are third party tested for quality and purity,” she explained.

“If you don’t know what you’re looking for, reach out to someone that does! Holistic pharmacists, naturopaths, dieticians, and nutritionists all have specialized training in this field and can help guide you in the right direction,” Cook added.

To help support your immune system this winter, and everything in between, we’ve rounded up 7 supplements to help you thrive and survive during the colder months.

Cat’s Claw Comb Herb

Take four capsules daily to have the healthiest immune system around, hailed for its uses in traditional Peruvian therapies in the 1980s international congress, Cats Claw may be the countries best-kept secret when it comes to herbs.

SHOP IT: Natures Sunshine, $35

Harmony My Sleep

Cook said that it’s important to prioritize sleep and with everything currently going on in the world it might be hard to get some good shut-eye. Harmony My Sleep is a unique and natural multi herb formula to induce sleep and relieve restlessness. The multi herb formula contains sour cherry which holds natural melatonin and hops which activates melatonin. Catch all the Zs this winter season with Harmony My Sleep.

SHOP IT: Well.ca, $25

Lucky Iron Fish

It’s important to maintain healthy iron levels. Gavin Armstrong, CEO of Lucky Iron Fish, told Yahoo Lifestyle Canada that it’s even more important “if you’re an athlete, menstruating, or pregnant since you require more iron.” He warned that iron deficiency symptoms can feel like fatigue, frequently falling sick, hair loss and dull skin.

“An easy way to boost your iron intake without experiencing nausea, constipation, and other side effects of iron pills, is by simply adding the Lucky Iron Fish to your cooking for 10 minutes,” he added. “This cooking tool increases the iron content of your dish by more than 50 per cent of your recommended daily intake and it is clinically proven to improve iron deficiency."

SHOP IT: Amazon, $55

VTMN Packs

A regimen of good quality vitamins and supplements can help fill in the gaps where diet alone just isn’t enough, according to Cook. While buying, storing and remembering to take vitamins can be a hassle, Cook has the perfect solution. “That’s where VTMN Packs comes in. We are a personalized service that takes the trouble and guesswork out of staying healthy and have created the easiest, most convenient way to purchase and manage your daily vitamin intake,” she said.

“We provide a monthly supply of vitamins and supplements in daily dose packets to help you stay on track and get the most out of your wellness regimen,” she added. “Whether you choose to build your own pack or use our Health Assessment to provide a curated list of recommendations, you can rest assured that you are getting the best supplements.”

SHOP IT: VTMN Packs, prices vary depending on created pack

The Complete Women’s Multi

Worried about over-complicating your New Year’s resolutions? Stick to a one-and-done multivitamin like the Complete Women’s Multi. Designed exclusively for women, this daily multivitamin delivers 21 essential micronutrients including vitamin D and vitamin A to boost the immune system, biotin for healthy skin and nails and calcium for bone health.

SHOP IT: Well.ca, $28

Zinc & Vitamin C Lozenges

Use these zinc and vitamin C lozenges to keep not only your immune system but your skin, bones and teeth in tip-top shape. With adults getting up to four colds a year, there’s no better reason to keep these lozenges on hand.

SHOP IT: Nature’s Sunshine, $38

Tru Niagen

Tru Niagen’s unique form of vitamin B3, NAD+ helps the body metabolize nutrients to make energy, supplementing the NAD+ naturally found in the body, which decreases with age and stressors. Within a month of using Tru Niagen, there is an increase in cellular energy that helps with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining levels of NAD+ helps support healthy ageing and prevents the decline of cellular energy.

SHOP IT: Tru Niagen, $55

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