With the concern over COVID-19, focusing on your health and well-being is more important than ever. One way to boost your immune system and improve your overall health is to take a regimen of vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure that you get nutrients that may be lacking in your diet. Use the following guide to determine which ones may be right for you.

Why Supplements Are Important

Even the healthiest eater may not get everything their body needs from their diet alone. If you’re on a calorie-restricted diet, pregnant or breastfeeding, sick or recovering from surgery, or have food allergies that prevent you from eating enough nutrient-rich food, your body may not be getting the vitamins and minerals it needs. In any of these cases, supplements can ensure that you receive the proper nutrition.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Supplements

Men and women have different nutritional requirements, just as older people need more and different vitamin and mineral supplements than younger individuals. That’s why it’s important to carefully consider what type you’re taking.

There are plenty of multivitamin options that give you a dose of a wide variety of essential vitamins and minerals, but pay attention to the specific demographic they’re made for. Multivitamins made for men fifty-and-older don’t contain the same nutrients as prenatal vitamins.

Preexisting medical conditions can also impact what supplements you should take. For example, women with osteoporosis may need calcium and vitamin D, while pregnant women may want fish oil and DHA. If you know what nutrient your body is lacking, high doses of a single vitamin may be recommended, but always check with your doctor first.

Always stay within the recommended dietary allowance for each vitamin and mineral unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Make sure they aren’t expired and watch out for potential food allergy ingredients. 

If you’re unsure about what supplements to take, ask the helpful staff at Lori’s Natural Food Center in Rochester, NY. They’ve been in the natural foods business since 1981, and they know about the natural, holistic approach to health and wellness. They have products such as non-GMO, organic foods and vitamin and mineral supplements. Call (585) 424-2323 with any questions or visit their website to browse their store.