Dr. Fauci Recommends These Vitamin Supplements to Fight COVID-19
In need of an expert's advice? Here are some vitamin recommendations from none other than Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Scientists have yet to find a working solution to end the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines are currently in progress, but it may take a while before we get to see it all bear fruit.
For now, preventive measures are our best option through the use of masks, face shields, and physical distancing. However, these alone aren't enough to keep this menacing virus away. We need that added layer protection through our immune system.
We all have our ways of doing so, but most of them are self-medicated. So to have a more definitive answer, we'll refer to the statements of none other than the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Dr. Fauci has also been leading the Trump Administration's Coronavirus Task Force. In a recent conversation with actress Jennifer Garner, he mentioned what he believes is an effective combination of vitamin supplements that could help shield ourselves from infection.
Whichever method you may have should work well, but Dr. Fauci's recommendation is certainly worth hearing out, at the very least.
The Expert's Answer
So what is Dr. Fauci's recommendation? Vitamin D is at the top of his list, based on his own experience.
If you're deficient in vitamin D, that does have an impact on your susceptibility to infection. I would not mind recommending, and I do it myself, taking vitamin D supplements.
The second item on his list? Vitamin C. He even suggested the dosage to start with.
The other vitamin that people take is vitamin C because it's a good antioxidant, so if people want to take a gram or so of vitamin C, that would be fine.
We all know that Vitamin C is the go-to supplement to prepare for flu season, but for many of us, that's about it. The knowledge about how far it goes in terms of immune health protection could be very limited. Same thing with Vitamin D, and that you can get it from those early hours of sunlight in the morning.
But what exactly do they offer, and why are they Dr. Fauci's top recommendations?
Vitamin C: More Than Just a Cold Buster
Once October rolls around, you'll see your local pharmacy packed with people more than usual. All of them are stocking up for protection, which is the smart thing to do.
But Vitamin C is not just a weapon to fight the common cold. In fact, it bears a lot of other benefits you probably don't know of. Since the 1970s, experts also deemed it an effective medication for both cancer prevention and treatment, as well as cardiovascular diseases. They pointed to Vitamin C's antioxidant properties to kill off free radicals that cause cell damage.
Whether it's because of COVID-19 or life's regular stressors, we do need a healthy amount of antioxidants in us. You can have that by not skimping on your Vitamin C intake.
Vitamin D: The Unsung Immune System Defender
You often hear doctors advise people to get a healthy amount of sunlight as one of their daily dose of Vitamin D. This nutrient bears a number of great benefits, from reducing inflammation to enhancing both bone health and your immune system.
But Vitamin D is a bit more complex than generally perceived. If you drop by your local drugstore, you'll find two variants: Vitamin D2 and D3. What sets these two apart is that the former comes from plant sources like wild mushrooms. The latter, meanwhile, is mostly derived from animal sources like fish oil and egg yolks.
When it comes to narrowing these two down, experts deem Vitamin D3 as the more effective nutrient, simply because it is processed better by the body.
In terms of protection from COVID-19, Vitamin D plays a huge role, particularly for preventing respiratory tract infections. We could definitely use all the lung protection we can get, and this is one way of doing so.
Are Vitamins C and D Effective Against COVID-19?
If taken correctly, experts deem both of these supplements as providers of ample protection against the coronavirus. Especially with flu season coming up, you'll need that added line of defense.
Like any other form of medication, doses matter a lot. Taking too much may cause adverse reactions like nausea and diarrhea, so it'd be best to stick to your doctor's prescription. The NIH recommends 90 milligrams of Vitamin C per day for men and 75 milligrams for women. As for Vitamin D, 15 micrograms per day is the sweet spot.
And if you're in search of a brand that could suit you well, Cymbiotika offers its Synergy Liposomal Vitamin C and Synergy D3 K2 COQ10. If we're talking about new-age supplements to tailor-fit this day and age of living, these are the perfect products to start with.
Unlike traditional forms of medication, these are nutrients that go directly to your bloodstream. The body absorbs them a lot better, and ultimately, you reap the benefits more effectively.