One Tuesday morning in July 2020 I woke up feeling extremely tired. Being that Covid-19 was at its peak, that’s the first thing I suspected as the culprit. I decided to do my own quick examination since I knew some of the obvious signs. I smelled my Vaseline jelly and it was bland. I decided Vaseline was too mild maybe it never had a smell anyway. So I took my Rob ointment and it was odorless as well. I got concerned and finally took my bottle of sanitizer and I might as well have tasted water. The chemical which at other times would burn my tongue was now odorless and tasteless. My fears were confirmed!
The next thing was a visit to the hospital to have tests taken. I queued and repeated a silent prayer that it would turn out negative. Long story short, I took the test and when the results came, I was positive. The only consolation was my mild symptoms though that didn’t take away the fear of suddenly getting worse and dying.
When Corona emerged last year, it brought changes to life everywhere, but more so in Africa in some not-so-obvious ways. Personally, as a victim with very mild symptoms, I did things that I hadn’t done ever. For starters, I had to inhale very hot steam from some weird-smelling leaves three times a day.
Because the disease didn’t have and still has no known cure, people were coming up with treatment theories and connotations of their own. Among the self-prescription were certain supplements said to be effective in treating Covid-19. These are supplements associated with boosting immunity and energy.
Save for this Covid-19 season, supplements in Africa are used as a medicine, and even then only when prescribed after an illness. Other than that, they are largely ignored. Lack of information plays a big role in people not taking supplements.
If there’s any lesson that Covid has taught me, it’s to make supplements a part of my everyday life. I need to stay strong and keep off diseases and not rush to build immunity when I get sick. To afford my supplements, I have made some sacrifices including cutting out on eating out, which I do a lot. Similarly, I have limited my impromptu rides on the weekends.
I don’t feel cheated reducing my entertainment to afford supplements. On the contrary, I find it a great discovery that has many health benefits.
I must say I have noticed some very positive changes in my body after incorporating supplements. My arthritis has almost been cured. I can tell because the pain in my knees has drastically reduced. Likewise, it has given me smooth flawless skin from a normally acne-ridden one. I would recommend supplements to anyone who wants to reap the benefits.
Below are some more health benefits you will get when you use supplements:
- Research has shown that using supplements can help to stop the spread of cancer to other parts.
- They replace nutrients lost by fruits and vegetables using advanced farming methods.
- They help eradicate poisons we consume from the environment by being exposed to pollutants and toxins that reduce antioxidants.
- Studies show that taking Omega-3, Vitamin D, curcumin, and Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate help treat arthritis.
- Supplements also restore minerals drained from water as it’s processed and filtrated.
- They are vital for pregnant women since they need extra nutrients to cater to the baby too.
- People who consume alcohol lose Vitamins C, B vitamins, antioxidants, and most minerals found in supplements.
- Smokers need supplements to replace the antioxidants lost by smoking.
- They replace nutrients, especially vitamin C and B vitamins lost when you are stressed.
- Consuming vitamin A and E and D supplements in combination with a diet rich in the same vitamins decrease the chances of contracting respiratory diseases.
In conclusion. dietary supplements are not a luxury but an essential in our bodies due to the polluted world we live in. Similarly, the depletion of minerals happening in foods caused by sophisticated ways of farming makes the food lose valuable nutrients.
It’s however important to seek a doctor’s advice before embarking on using nutrients. The doctor will help you with the right dosage and point out what you need depending on your age, occupation, and health status.
Florence Mararo is a health, wellness and fitness enthusiast living in Nairobi, Kenya. You can read more of her work at https://medium.com/@nyawiramararo and
www.linkedin.com/in/peninah-nyawira
