Shield Your Health

We are happy to help sick patients by providing the right medication; however, we prefer to help people prevent illness rather than treat it after the fact. Last month we talked about Immune System Support from Healthy Living Solutions. It’s a great addition to your supplement regimen to give your immune system that extra boost when you need it. To maintain that strong immune system all year round, consider these two supplements that Dr. Wayne includes in his Top Five list.

Vitamin D is sometimes called the “sunshine vitamin” because your skin makes it when exposed to sunlight. Unfortunately, most Americans aren’t getting enough—especially during the fall and winter months when sunlight is limited. According to the CDC, nearly 42% of U.S. adults are deficient in vitamin D. Deficiency has been linked to increased risk of infections, fatigue, and weaker bones.

Research shows vitamin D plays a critical role in “activating” immune defenses. A study published in the British Medical Journal found that daily or weekly vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of acute respiratory infections by 19%—and in people who were already deficient, the protective benefit was even stronger.

In simple terms: if your vitamin D levels are low, your immune system is like a car trying to run on an empty tank.

Since we live in Pennsylvania, we recommend everyone take 5000iu of vitamin D3 daily through the colder, darker months. If you get plenty of sunshine in the warmer months, you can drop your dosage down to 2500iu.

Now let’s talk about your gut. Probiotics are the “good bacteria” that live in your digestive tract. They help maintain a healthy gut lining, reduce inflammation, and support your body’s natural defenses against viruses and bacteria. Scientists now estimate that about 70% of your immune system resides in your gut. That means the balance of bacteria in your digestive system is directly tied to how strong your immune system is.

One study in Frontiers in Immunology found that taking certain probiotic strains cut the duration of respiratory infections by nearly two days and reduced the severity of symptoms. For families, this can mean fewer missed workdays, fewer sick days for kids, and quicker recovery when illness strikes.

Consider Mary, a friend of our director of operations, Kim. While talking one day about her overall health and wellness, Kim recommended Mary try a daily probiotic. She ended up purchasing the 35 Billion Probiotic from Healthy Living Solutions. Almost a year later, Mary told Kim she was going to stop taking the probiotic. When Kim asked her why, she responded, “I could really use a sick day, and I haven’t been sick since I started taking it!”

Stories like Mary’s aren’t unusual—we see them all the time when people give their immune system the nutrients it needs to function at its best.

Take action today! If you want to protect yourself and your family this season, adding a daily probiotic and vitamin D supplement is a smart, proactive step. Both are safe, affordable, and available right here at Carl’s Drug Store. And, because they are both on Dr. Wayne’s Top Five list, you get a 10% discount if you buy them together.

Stop by today and let us help you choose the right probiotic strain and vitamin D dosage for your needs. Your immune system will thank you—not just this season, but year-round.