Fall is so much more than just that spot on the calendar between the fun-in-the-sun of summer and the merry-making holidays of winter. Students go back to school, baseball gives way to football, pumpkins get carved and turkeys get gobbled up. The days get shorter, the nights get longer and the weather begins to get chilly. As the leaves turn from green to all sorts of autumn shades, our time spent outside tends to lessen – by November, the most sunshine some people get to see is while they’re walking to their cars in the morning.

Being inside more means more moments for connecting with family, more time for curling up with a good book, and the food tastes richer for all the care put into cooking it. Unfortunately, such a shift to indoor life also brings with it less opportunity to exercise and more opportunity to eat too much. With flu season approaching and the recent swine flu scares, it’s important to realize that a lack of nutrients can take its toll on your body — your immune system may have to work overtime just to keep up.

It’s important to make sure you’re providing your body with the vital nutrients it needs to maintain good health. This fall, take care to realize that the changing seasons is no time to let your health regimen fall by the wayside. Proper diet and targeted exercise are more important than ever, as is making certain that you’re meeting your body’s nutritional needs. As always, a good multivitamin is the cornerstone of a balanced supplement program, and Sundown Naturals® has many to choose from to meet your specific needs.* However, there are other vitamins and supplements that you may want to consider in addition to your multivitamin to battle the changing seasons.

Vitamin C – Your Immune System’s Best Friend
Nourish your body with the leading vitamin for immune support, which can be especially important as the seasons are changing.* Vitamin C is key for the functioning of white blood cells, which are vital components of the immune system.* In addition to the nourishment it provides for immune health, Vitamin C provides superior antioxidant support, promotes healthy blood flow, is beneficial for the health of joints and helps to produce collagen, the basis for healthy skin, hair, nails and joints.*

Let the Sun in with Vitamin D
Even though there are a few food sources of Vitamin D – including egg yolks – the most prevalent source of this important vitamin is the sun. Lack of exposure to sunlight may reduce Vitamin D levels in your body, especially in the winter months. Also, Vitamin D absorption has a tendency to decrease with age, so older adults may especially benefit from taking a Vitamin D supplement.* In fact, a review study on the benefits of Vitamin D recommends increased use of Vitamin D supplements in the U.S. to help ensure adequate intake and optimal health.1 Vitamin D is known for its ability to support cellular function and promote overall immune function.* It also assists calcium in building strong teeth and bones, while promoting colon, pancreas and breast health.* To keep your Vitamin D levels where they should be, Sundown offers 400 IU, 1000 IU and 2000 IU formulas.

A No-Fuss Way to Get the Nutrition of Fish
One area that the Western diet falls short on is the intake of fish. Fish is generally seen as difficult to buy, unappealing to cook and a hassle to clean up after eating. However, fish is also the primary source of Omega-3 fatty acids, the “good” fats that your body uses for a variety of health-related functions, including cellular health and proper immune function.* The Omega-3 fatty acids delivered by our Fish Oil products provide you with these same benefits.* Plus, Omega-3s help support proper circulation, heart health, and brain and cognitive function.*

Just remember, all Fish Oil sources are not created equal; for the safest fish oil supplement, you’ll want one that is purified to eliminate mercury – like the Fish Oils from Sundown Naturals®! Each and every one of our Fish Oils is molecularly distilled to remove impurities such as mercury, PCBs and dioxins. This ensures that you’re getting the purest Fish Oil available.

1Garland, C. et al. AJPH. 2006. 96(2). 9-18.