5 Essential Vitamins You Need To Take More During Coronavirus Lockdown

Supplementation is one good way to ensure that your body is in good shape during the coronavirus crisis. After all, good health equates to high immunity, which then translates to sufficient protection against COVID-19.

Eating healthy and doing regular exercise may seem enough for most, but what many people do not know is that there are vitamins and nutrients that the human body needs that are not readily obtainable through diet. This is where vitamin supplementation comes in.

According to UpToDate, vitamin supplementation is necessary in disease prevention because vitamins play an important role in certain bodily processes and yet they are not synthesized by the human body. While many vitamins can be obtained from the diet, there are some that need to be ingested in supplement form.

At present, the world is shrouded in uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic. People with low immunity, especially the elderly, are at a higher risk of contracting the deadly virus. So to lower the chances of getting infected, experts have advised to eat and stay healthy. And a good way to do this is to drink vitamin supplements. But with all the numerous supplements available in the market, it's easy to get confused as to which ones to buy.

Fortunately, integrative physician Bindiya Gandhi, MD, has narrowed down the list to just five. In a report published on mindbodygreen, the expert said people should focus their attention on calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B complex, vitamin D3 and magnesium during this difficult time.

"Calcium is essential for bone turnover," Gandhi said, adding that it helps support overall well-being as well. And though calcium is found in broccoli, salmon and other food items, one can boost calcium levels in the body by taking supplements.

On the other hand, vitamin C is a very potent antioxidant that promotes optimum immune function. Apart from collagen production, it is also important in tissue repair and other functions. It is also worth noting that some hospitals are using high-dose vitamin C to treat COVID-19 patients.

Meanwhile, vitamin B complex, vitamin D3 and magnesium play roles in certain processes that also promote good health. Any deficiency in any of the three could lead to certain conditions like depression, sleep problems and lower immune system. Hence, obtaining them through diet or supplementation is also strongly recommended amid the coronavirus pandemic.