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Dr Laure Martinat (Anesthesiologist-resuscitator)
With the cold snap and shorter days, many people are turning to vitamins to boost their energy. Which are essential? How to choose the right treatment? The answers of Dr Laure Martinat, micronutrition expert and member of the Doctissimo expert committee.
In winter, when you feel a little more tired than usual, the first instinct is often to buy vitamins to reboost yourself. “Nevertheless“says first of all Laure Martinat, “the first thing to remember is that when you have a healthy lifestyle, that you eat properly in a varied and balanced way, you do not lack vitamins“. Conversely, vitamins are not a way to compensate for a poor diet.
Vitamin D, the only essential vitamin
A rich and varied diet is therefore sufficient to cover our vitamin needs. “The only supplement we really need is vitamin D.“adds the micronutrition expert.
“Vitamin D is necessary at all ages, it should be taken all year round, except for people living in very sunny areas. You should ideally know your plasma level, by taking a blood test at your doctor’s and then adapting the quantity to be taken” adds Laure Martinat.
Vitamin C, as a supplement
Vitamin C is one of the vitamins that may be useful to take as a supplement.
“Even if no scientific data has yet demonstrated a reduction in fatigue or a decrease in infections during supplementation, it may be good to take it as a cure, for a few weeks. , because vitamin C is a fragile vitamin, which degrades quickly“adds Dr. Martinat.
She advises taking it in the morning and at noon or in the morning and in the evening, in doses of 500 mg. “You can absolutely take it at night, because contrary to popular belief, it is not exciting and you can sleep well after taking it”.
Zinc, for the elderly
Zinc is also an essential element for our body. “It is found particularly in fish or shellfish, certain cereals… The elderly are often deficient for lack of correct food intake, a cure is therefore relevant in this particular case.“says Laure Martinat again.
NO to diets, YES to WW!
In any case, seek advice
Taking a vitamin cure can therefore be relevant in some cases. But according to Laure Martinat, “You should always seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist, because there are different types of vitamins, they can be of natural or synthetic origin… It is important to be well advised before buying them because they do not not all are worth” she concludes.