Top holiday health tips

While we’re busy making our Christmas list and checking it twice, here’s a list you may want to add to your list of lists: your holiday health tips/supplements (as can be gleaned from www.mercola.com).

• As you decorate your Christmas tree, remember your omega-3s. Experts say that the best source of omega-3s is krill oil, but how do you know it’s licensed to krill? Of course, you want one that’s certified by the Marine Stewardship Council because that means that the way the krill is harvested and handled is sustainable.

• Let whey show you the way to good health. Mercola, however, cautions everyone to pick one that’s made from pasture-fed cows’ milk and is free of chemicals, added sugars, and artificial sweeteners. And get the whey protein concentrate and not the isolate to get the full nutritional benefits.

• Go for probiotics. And the best way to get probiotics is to eat fermented foods. Don’t like fermented foods? You can always take a probiotic supplement, but make sure it contains Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1.

• If you’re over 25, here’s something for you: ubiquinol. It’s difficult for the body to absorb CoQ10, which has to be converted to a more natural form (or ubiquinol). CoQ10 is one of the most powerful antioxidants in the body, and as we age, it’s harder and harder to convert it to ubiquinol.

• If you are taking statins (to lower cholesterol), it’s vitally important that you take a CoQ10 or ubiquinol supplement because statins can decrease your levels of CoQ10.

• Ask for astaxanthin, one of nature’s most powerful fat-soluble antioxidants.  It’s extremely difficult to get it from one’s diet — look for a high-quality astaxanthin supplement.?

• See to it you take your Vitamin C.  It’s the most widely used vitamin supplement, but note that a high dose of Vitamin C can cause digestive problems.

• Go loco over coco. Use your coconut oil (which, luckily, we have an ample supply of) . Coconut oil, which comes from the “tree of life,” is one of the best sources of saturated fat as medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), which is a good fat. Try to get a good part of your diet from fats like avocados and coconut oil.  Apart from breast milk, coconut milk is nature’s abundant source of lauric acid (about 50 percent), which is converted into a compound that’s got antiviral and antimicrobial properties.

• Think green. Like our mothers always tell us (I suppose their mothers tell them the same thing): Eat your vegetables. But if you don’t get the recommended servings like most people, you can either juice your veggies to get the nutrients or take a high-quality greens formula.

• To keep up with the stresses of the holiday season, fuel up with multivitamins. As you may find yourself traveling and not eating right, pack your multivitamins to keep your body going. Partner this with Vitamin D, one of the most important nutrients you should get.

• It’s A-OK to complement your multivitamin that should come with  Vitamin D. Such as with Vitamin K2 to support your bone health.

While caught in the frenzy of taking care of all the holiday preparations, don’t forget to take care of your body, too! Happy, healthy holidays!