Explore Thorne's 5 Bestsellers During Quarantine
The year 2020 has given us more than a few reasons to prioritize our health, and although this has been a wildly unpredictable year so far, many individuals are using it to set the foundation for healthy habits that will last long after the pandemic ends.
A very common question we receive now is, “What products should I be taking right now?” And while we can’t recommend which products are right for a specific individual we have decided to share Thorne's list of their top five best-selling products of 2020 and explain a bit about why each one is a current favorite.
1. D-5,000
Vitamin D is a bestseller for multiple reasons. Most of the cells of your immune system have receptor sites for vitamin D, which tells you of vitamin D’s importance. Vitamin D helps maintain what is called “innate immunity” – the first response your body has when it senses that something is amiss internally.*
Although direct sunlight triggers the body’s natural production of vitamin D, many individuals haven’t been getting enough vitamin D because they’ve been quarantining at home. As the winter months and decreasing sunlight approaches, we need vitamin D more than ever, but we are now more likely to avoid the outdoors when it’s colder, thus getting less of the sunshine vitamin.
Vitamin D supplementation can fill the sunshine gap during this time.* Unfortunately, the powders used in many pre-mixed vitamin D dilutions frequently contain potentially detrimental ingredients, like lactose, as well as preservatives like BHT, BHA, sodium benzoate, and sorbic acid. Thorne's vitamin D is formulated for individuals who are sensitive to those ingredients.
Research suggests that an optimal serum vitamin D level should be in the range of 32-80 ng/mL 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Make sure you know where your vitamin D level stands by measuring it with Thorne's at-home blood test. (Available through our provider account).
2. Daily Multi-Vitamin/Mineral
General health and wellness is top of mind for many individuals during the pandemic. A multi-vitamin/mineral supplement is an easy and effective way to obtain many of the vitamins and minerals your body needs for optimal immune health.*
Thorne’s multi-vitamin/mineral suite contains the nutrients essential for immune support, including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K, and zinc.* They offer a wide variety of multi-vitamin/mineral supplement that suit many different types of nutrient gaps and wellness goals.
Thorne's Multi-Vitamin Elite provides active individuals who have high-performance nutritional regimens with essential nutrients in two complementary formulas.* And Thorne’s Basic Prenatal is specifically formulated with the needs of conception, pregnancy, and breastfeeding in mind.* Thorne also has two multi-vitamin/mineral formulas created for men and women older than 50. Take their quiz to determine which multi- is right for you.
3. Zinc Picolinate 15 mg
If zinc wasn’t on your list of daily supplements before 2020, then it likely is now, because of how much zinc’s significant immuno-supportive benefits have been in the news lately.*
Although zinc is considered an essential mineral, it’s important to note that your body doesn’t make it – so zinc must come from food and supplementation. Maintaining a proper level of zinc assures the immune system is functioning optimally; several studies indicate that zinc plays a central role in immune function.*1
One study that focused on immune function and the elderly found that even a marginal zinc deficiency in this population can adversely impact immune function.*2 In addition to Zinc Picolinate, Thorne also offers Zinc Bisglycinate. You can learn about the differences in mineral absorption here.
4. Stress B-Complex
In addition to supporting immune function this year, we must also keep in mind the importance of adrenal gland support and stress management. Although a global pandemic is stressful, no doubt, there are many self care steps we can take to combat the inevitable stressors.
Your two adrenal glands play an important role in effectively managing stress.* Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) is part of the B-vitamin complex and is essential for healthy adrenal and immune function.* Thorne's Stress B-Complex provides extra vitamin B5, along with eight other water-soluble nutrients: thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin/R5P (vitamin B2), niacinamide (vitamin B3), pyridoxine/P5P (vitamin B6), methylcobalamin (vitamin B12), methyl-folate (5-MTHF), biotin, and choline.
Unsure if Stress B-Complex is right for you? Thorne’s At-Home Stress Test gives you the knowledge to find out from the comfort of your home. Their Stress Test measures the two primary markers of stress – cortisol and DHEA – which will enable you to know if you are managing your stress effectively or if you need to do more. Knowing your levels of these two stress hormones will help you and your health care practitioner determine what your best stress management strategies should be, and to confirm whether the changes you implement are having the desired effects.
5. Magnesium Bisglycinate
Where B vitamins are important for properly managing stress, Magnesium Bisglycinate promotes restful sleep and muscle relaxation.* In addition to magnesium, the amino acid glycine in “bisglycinate” acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter – meaning, it promotes rest and relaxation.*
Many people have been working from home for quite some time. Although this new work environment can have benefits, it also has many pitfalls. Negative side effects of working from home can be physical, like working in a less comfortable chair and desk, or they might be emotional, like parents trying to juggle their workloads while managing their children’s online schooling. Getting a good night sleep each night can help minimize these stressors and make for better mornings.
When it comes to basic vitamins and minerals to help with sleep, magnesium is at the top of my list. But despite its importance for many aspects of health – restful sleep, muscle relaxation, heart health, bone health, nerve health, and the list goes on* – many of us consume less than an optimal amount of magnesium. According to World Health Organization statistics, as many as three out of four U.S. adults do not meet the FDA’s Recommended Daily Intake for magnesium.
A low level of magnesium is also associated with a low level of the sleep hormone, melatonin, which disrupts your circadian rhythm, making your body feel wired at night when it should be winding down for sleep.*3 What are your melatonin and cortisol levels? Find out with this simple, at-home Sleep Test.
A study of older adults – in which half reported difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep – showed that supplementation with magnesium had a significant positive impact on sleep time, sleep quality, and melatonin concentration.*4
Implementing Healthy Habits during a Pandemic
While supplementation during this uncertain time is helpful, we should also remember to practice other healthy habits. Physical touch has been shown to actually boost immunity and decrease anxiety and stress. Managing screen time is another strategy to employ – remember to take breaks, to blink, and to get offline when you can. Explore other ways to practice self care if you’re quarantining here.
References
Marreiro D, Cruz K, Morais J, et al. Zinc and oxidative stress: current mechanisms. Antioxidants (Basel) 2017;6(2):24.
Haase H, Rink L. The immune system and the impact of zinc during aging. Immun Ageing 2009;6:9.
Durlach J, Pagès N, Bac P, et al. Biorhythms and possible central regulation of magnesium status, phototherapy, darkness therapy and chronopathological forms of magnesium depletion. Magnes Res 2002;15(1-2):49-66.
Abbasi B, Kimiagar M, Sadeghniiat K, et al. The effect of magnesium supplementation on primary insomnia in elderly: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Res Med Sci 2012;17(12):1161-1169.