Some nutritional supplements—such as a
quality multivitamin—are timeless. Others, however, are more suitable for certain times of the year. While the weather is warming around the globe, the world is also shifting into a “new normal”—a critical period when it’s vital to strive for optimal wellness.
With this in mind, here are 5 nutritional supplements you should consider taking this spring—and why.
What supplements to take this spring
1. Magnesium for rest
With the sun rising earlier and setting later, your usual hours of waking and rising may be, well,
off.
This is due in part to the fact that exposure to light suppresses the natural secretion of melatonin—a hormone your brain produces when darkness strikes.
Supplementing with
melatonin is a sound choice for many, but for those who are left feeling groggy the next day after taking it, they may want to reach for the mighty mineral that is magnesium.
Responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, magnesium influences everything from energy production to muscle recovery. It also plays an important part in healthy nerve function, as well as supporting normal muscle contraction and relaxation.
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Additionally, magnesium helps modulate melatonin while also binding to the receptors of GABA—a key neurotransmitter that plays an imperative role in
quieting nerve activity. Translation? Your brain and body may calm down, encouraging sleep.
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One to try: Ancient Nutrition’s Magnesium. 300 milligrams of enzyme-activated magnesium are contained in each serving (3 capsules) of this effective blend. What’s more, it brims with several other compounds that naturally support sleep, including the ancient, stress-busting adaptogen, Rhodiola.
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2. Milk thistle for sun protection
Few things feel better than when the temperature reaches a point where you can toss off your sweater.
And yet with this arrives a potential downside: The possibility of getting sunburned, which not only causes premature wrinkles and dryness but also puts you at risk for other skin issues.
To this end, consider milk thistle, a revered herb that grows primarily in California and other balmy climates. With use dating back to 40 A.D., the herb was traditionally to support gallbladder health. In our modern era, milk thistle has been studied extensively.
One study, interestingly, found that milk thistle may help shield skin from UVB radiation.
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What’s more, milk thistle—which has been dubbed the “king” of detoxifying herbs— organically supports healthy liver function. This is key as the world returns to post-work (and working from home) happy hours.
One to try: NutriGold’s Milk Thistle Gold. This organic extract is free of common allergens such as peanuts and shellfish and contains 175 mg of milk thistle per serving.
3. Quercetin for immune health
It’s easy to while away the winter inside but come spring and you’ll likely want to head outdoors—particularly after a solid year of isolation and limited (if any) social contact. Understandable, to be sure, but immune health remains crucial, not only because of COVID-19 but also because it’s peak season for rhinovirus.
Quercetin may help in this regard. The bioflavonoid naturally fosters immune health, as well as sinus and respiratory function. Furthermore, it organically encourages a healthy inflammatory response—precisely what your body needs to ward off foreign invaders.
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Several foods are rich in quercetin, including red grapes, apples, berries and cauliflower. If you’re a fan of green tea—iced or hot—you’re in luck: The beloved beverage brims with this bioflavonoid.
One to try: MRM’s Quercetin. This certified vegan, non-GMO formula packs in a robust 500 mg of quercetin per capsule.
4. Stinging nettle for allergy relief
Blue skies, blooming flowers, and ample sunshine are always welcome. What’s not? The spring allergies that are prevalent during the season.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, allergies affect 50 million Americans each year. Symptoms can range from coughing and sneezing to itchy eyes and an equally itchy throat—all of which can put a damper on your springtime day.
Stinging nettle may offer some relief. Use of this perennial plant trace back to ancient Greece, where it was used for joint health, among other applications. Today, findings from the National Institutes of Health show that stinging nettle may provide some relief from symptoms of allergies. This may be because stinging nettle contains histamine, which data demonstrates may be helpful in managing allergic reactions.
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One to try: Herb Pharm’s Stinging Nettle Blend. This potent extract naturally supports respiratory health, which is essential when battling spring allergies.
5. Vitamin A for eye health
Cases of pink eye surge during the spring and summer months. Also known as infectious conjunctivitis, pink eye is either bacterial or viral. Accompanied by redness (hence the word “pink”), itchiness, discomfort, and irritation, it seldom presents vision problems. What’s more, viral pink eye tends to go away on its own. (Antibiotic eye drops are frequently prescribed for bacterial pink eye.)
A better strategy? Avoiding pink eye altogether. A diet packed with probiotics, zinc, and vitamins C and E can help you maintain eye health, particularly if all of this is coupled with vitamin A.
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Vitamin A naturally supports the cornea, or the protective outer layer of the eye. Foods high in beta-carotene, such as spinach, kale, winter squash, apricots—and, yes, carrots—are converted to vitamin A in the body, giving you all the more reason to visit your local farmers’ market this season.
One to try: Now’s Vitamin A. These softgel capsules naturally support the tissues that line the internal and external surfaces of the body—including the eyes.
† And with spring here, and all of the beauties it holds, there’s no better time to open your peepers wide.
†These statements have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
