Supplements R Us

A month or so ago I embarked on a plan of dietary supplementation to improve our resistance to influenza. I began with zinc lozenges. The nice thing about zinc lozenges is that once you are no longer deficient they taste nasty and metallic instead of yummy. We went through an entire small bottle of Solgar Flavo-Zinc and then I couldn't find it again, so we are currently taking a zinc capsule. Those are nearly gone, and I will replace it with more Flavo-Zinc.

The next supplement I added was Cod Liver Oil. We take the capsules, because I am certain a spoonful of it would never pass my Sweetie's lips. Cod Liver Oil isn't just about vitamins. It's a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which pretty much everyone needs.

The last supplement I added may be the most important one. We are taking Vitamin D, in the form of D-3, 2000 IU each per day. This is currently the maximum daily dose according to the US government. However, new research linking vitamin D deficiency to depression and heart disease - and a very high incidence of vitamin D deficiency in the US population - has groups working to get that recommendation increased to 10,000 IU. If it is increased then more foods can have it added as a supplement, like milk. Relatively high doses of vitamin D are needed to remedy a deficiency.

In general we now feel healthier than we have in many years. There are a few small exceptions, which I will explain in my next post.