Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re still being constantly bombarded by COVID-19 (C19) propaganda 24/7… everything from who has it, how many died from it, new variants, and of course, the never-ending pressure to get vaccinated. Fear, fear, fear, and more fear—that’s what the mainstream media (MSM) does best.

As a result, most people who listen to the MSM have been brainwashed to believe that there is only one thing and one thing only that will save them, save their loved ones, save the country, and save the entire world—the vaccine.

However, as we are witnessing more and more, none of the vaccines are effective at keeping you from getting C19, spreading C19, and oftentimes, they aren’t even very effective at keeping people out of the hospital (a good excuse for the forces in charge to start marketing the first of many boosters to come).

The worst part is that the vaccines themselves are not without risk. Arguably, they pose a greater risk to young, healthy individuals than C19.

Although the primary focus of the government and every news network is just one virus, there are many different viruses that can lead to respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, and I assure you that these are all still very much out there!

Furthermore, what our government officials and the media won’t tell you is that there are many effective alternatives to treating and preventing C19. In fact, the single most important element in preventing severe illness is EARLY TREATMENT. It can stop the virus from replicating and help your body recover very quickly.

Unfortunately, there’s no money to be made or power to be gained in these alternative treatments, so they are being discouraged and the scientists and doctors recommending them, censored. But the information is out there. You just have to search in the right places (and I’m here to help). I recommend sticking to ncbi.nlm.nih.gov or Google Scholar  for trusted research articles and studies.

I want you to be equipped to handle anything that comes your way this winter, whether it’s a simple cold, the flu, or the dreaded C19 (since these viruses work similarly in some ways—see the video in the section called “Understanding how and why these supplements work” below), so I wanted to summarize some helpful tips I found in an article called “Natural Supplements for COVID19—Background, Rationale, and Clinical Trials” on nih.gov.

HEALTH and Lifestyle choices

Before we start talking about the recommended supplements you should be taking preventatively and have on hand at all times, I want to address the most important element of health and wellness—good nutrition and regular exercise. Malnutrition, whether it stems from under-consuming calories or from overconsuming highly-processed, "frankenfoods", can lead to an increased risk of infection, as well as other health problems. Supplementing may help a bit, but the truth is that there is no amount of supplements that can negate a poor diet and an unhealthy lifestyle.

Poor nutrition and unhealthy food choices can also lead to obesity, which is the number one risk factor for complications from C19 and other viral infections. Conversely, healthy, nutrient-dense diets may help reduce the risk of infection by reducing inflammation and supporting overall immune health. Even if you choose not to take any dietary supplements, focusing on whole, unprocessed foods, limiting sugar, alcohol, and seed and/or vegetable oils can have a positive impact on your body's ability to fight off viruses naturally (shameless plug - contact me if you need help figuring out what and how to eat to maximize your health, and if you need inspiration, CLICK HERE to sign up for our newsletter, which includes a new, whole food recipe every week).

Now let’s talk supplements

ARE SUPPLEMENTS WORTH IT? 

The answer is a resounding 100% YES!

However, taking the highest quality and most bioavailable supplements is key in order to experience any health benefits. The cheap stuff at Walgreens and GNC is not only a waste of money but may even negatively affect your health.  

While most supplements are available over-the-counter at almost any grocery store or pharmacy, they are NOT all created equal. I use and recommend only third-party tested, pharmaceutical-grade products that contain high-quality ingredients, which are in their most bioavailable form (i.e., your body can easily absorb these nutrients) vs. cheap, synthetic ones that you will inevitably end up excreting through your urine, literally flushing your health and money down the toilet.

Worst of all, cheap supplements can sometimes do more harm than good, so make sure you are well-versed not only in the type of supplement you should be taking and how much of it and when, but also which are the best products and brands in every category. Remember, when it comes to supplements (as well as many other products), you get what you pay for.

Where to buy

So where can you find high quality, third-party tested supplements? I’m glad you asked!

I only recommend two sources:

1. The second best place to buy supplements is directly from the manufacturers of leading brands such as Designs For Health, Klaire Labs, NutriDyn, Quicksilver Scientific and many more. You are always guaranteed to get genuine, properly stored, unexpired product. The downside is that you have to know exactly what product and brand you are buying and if you take many supplements, it becomes cumbersome to shop for each one separately.

2. The BEST place to shop for supplements is from a trusted healthcare practitioner, like me. You can CLICK HERE to sign up with GetHealthy, my personally curated online dispensary and search through the many different brands and products I personally selected after a great deal of research. All products ship direct from the manufacturer so you never have to worry about quality issues. And the bonus is that many of the best supplements you can buy in my shop aren’t available over-the-counter without a practitioner. Please note that because these are pharmaceutical grade supplements, you will have to create an account before you can see some products, and certain supplements will require you to insert a practitioner code at checkout before you can purchase them (you can contact me and I will happily share the code with you so you can shop). And finally, you can get 10% OFF your entire first order if you sign up for our weekly newsletter. CLICK HERE to subscribe and you will immediately get the discount code in your welcome message.

Where NOT to buy

Now that I’ve told you the best sources for supplements, I have to warn you about one of the worst!

Never ever buy supplements on Amazon! It can be downright dangerous. Why?

1. No Regulation Laws
   While Amazon says they are trying to have stricter guidelines, they still aren’t regulated. While it may catch some false products, some experts are worried that Amazon is too reliant on artificial intelligence, and there may be numerous ways to cheat the system in order to get away with it.

2. Counterfeit Products
   Even if Amazon tried to catch any counterfeit products (from phone chargers to baby car seats, and yes, even supplements), some products will still slip through the cracks. In fact, it almost happened to one of my clients, who was shopping for quercetin (a zinc ionophore, which is similar to hydroxychloroquine in its function of helping zinc cross the cell membrane and enter the cell to stop viral replication). She texted me a few months ago with a dilemma. Apparently the brand she wanted was substantially more expensive in my online store than what she had found on Amazon. I was pretty frustrated and immediately reached out to my rep with an angry note, assuming they were making a killing on this brand. My rep was also surprised and immediately reached out to the manufacturer, who responded with “this is substantially below our MSRP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price). The product might be counterfeit.” It’s one thing if you end up with a fake Nike shoe, but it’s a completely different story if you end up with a fake supplement, because God only knows what you might be ingesting. Scary thought, right?

3. Lack of Temp Control in Storage
   Even if a legit supplement brand is being sold on Amazon, the issue is that Amazon warehouses and storage are not keeping those supplements in temperature-regulated rooms. You could be buying the best brand of any given supplement, but if it’s stored in a hot, humid area, it’s effectiveness will be nil, regardless of its marked buy/use date.

4. Contamination
   Amazon supplements have been known to have contaminated ingredients. While the companies may include the active ingredient they are marketing, you might be consuming other unwanted ingredients, some downright poisonous. For example, in December of 2020, over 1000 supplements listed on Amazon, with some of Amazon’s Best Sellers and Amazon’s Choice, were found to have illegal stimulants and drugs in them!

5. Lack of Ingredients
   Another issue with Amazon supplements (or your normal grocery store supplements) is that they may not contain a therapeutic amount of the active ingredient. This means that these brands are little more than a waste of money since you will reap no health benefits from their use.

WHAT to use

So finally, we can get to the nitty-gritty. Below I summarize the main points of the research article I cited above, called “Natural Supplements for COVID19—Background, Rationale, and Clinical Trials.” (CLICK HERE to read the full text).

🛑 Please note that nothing in this post should be misconstrued as medical advice. You should always speak with your own physician before commencing any new supplement regimen and to find out if there are any contraindications with any medications you may be taking.

Understanding how and why these supplements work

In order to fully understand why and how these recommended supplements work to keep you from getting ill, it is necessary to understand the nature of viruses, how they replicate, and the importance of early treatment. Watch (or listen) to my video below, which is a brief explanation of what a virus is, how it makes you ill, and what you can do to mitigate the risk.

IMPORTANCE OF INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPLEMENTATION

If you’ve gotten to the end of this article, you are obviously interested in optimizing your health. So I want to stress that in addition to knowing what kinds of supplements are best and the best and safest place to buy them, it is equally, if not more important to understand which supplements are right for your body!

Depending on your age, health history, genetics, symptoms, and lifestyle behaviors, your body may have specific deficiencies and may be less efficient at absorbing certain nutrients without the presence of others.

This is why it’s so important to work with an experienced integrative practitioner (like me!) who is well versed in creating customized nutrient regimens. Together we can find the right vitamins, probiotics, or herbs that are just right for your body and will truly maximize your health. 

While personalized supplementation is part of my ala carte offerings, I also offer nutrition guidance, exercise programs, and cognitive therapy and life coaching services. CLICK HERE to connect with me to see how we can best address your health concerns together.

Wishing you a healthy winter and beyond!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Victoria Gregory is an Integrative Nutritionist and founder of NEWTRITION NEWYOU. Her focus—whether with private clients, readers of her blog, or her followers on social media— is whole body wellness, incorporating whole-food nutrition, supplementation, exercise, toxin-free living, and mindset coaching. Victoria’s personal mission is to help make the world a healthier place, one person at a time, and she has helped thousands of people find joy and self-love through better eating habits and mindfulness. Learn more about Victoria.

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