Here are some tips from Dr. Gaétan Brouillard and Natasha Azrak to help you get through the holidays and winter without too much pain. First of all, when it comes to choosing supplements, it's important to ensure their quality. Look for the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) logo on products; this way, you can be sure that the ingredients listed on the bottle match those in the product.
Vitamin D
Our specialists recommend taking a vitamin D supplement... all year round! Even in summer? Yes, because it's not true that we get enough sun, unless of course you work outside, do a lot of gardening, etc. Most people spend a lot of time indoors (because of work, when it's too hot, etc.) and we use a lot of sunscreen, especially for children. You can still reduce the dose in summer and increase it in winter (up to 3000mg to 5000mg per day). Don't be afraid to take high doses before and during the holidays to boost your immune system. Note that 15 to 20 minutes of exposure to the sun in summer, in a swimsuit, provides the body with approximately 20,000mg of vitamin D!
Omega 3
They also recommend taking omega-3 (EPA/DHA) supplements. Product quality is crucial to avoid ingesting heavy metals, such as mercury, found in large fish. They recommend taking a dose of 2000mg to 3000mg per day for people with inflammation. To maintain a good reserve, they recommend a dose of 600mg to 1000mg per day.
What can I do to relieve heartburn?
It's important to consider the causes. The holiday season can be a time when occasional heartburn can occur. Some people experience repeated heartburn. A bag test (ask your doctor if you suffer from chronic heartburn) can then be used to check for the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which causes microulcerations in the stomach lining.
Chronic heartburn can also be caused by a zinc deficiency. This mineral is also important for the immune system, testosterone production, and the prostate. They recommend taking a dose that does not exceed 40 mg per day to avoid impairing the absorption of other minerals, such as iron and copper.
And to fight the cold?
Jacynthe recommends ginger juice, lemon juice, and polen. Natasha advises gargling with salt water to which lemon juice has been added. Oregano, in essential oil form, is also a good flu reliever, according to Dr. Brouillard.
Finally, don't forget probiotics, powerful allies!
To find out more:
Brouillard, Gaétan. Health rethought: stop looking for the miracle pill, act differently , Montreal, Les Éditions de l'Homme, 2015, 208 p.
Brouillard, Gaétan. Pain Rethought: Just because we're in pain doesn't necessarily mean we have to suffer , Montreal, Les Éditions de l'Homme, 2017, 248 p.
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