The realities of interrupted supply lines, bare store shelves, and material shortages during the 2020 pandemic have resulted in many people considering their emergency preparedness. Millions of people across the globe were caught with not enough food, medications, or water to survive. This realization has prompted many people to think about how they can prepare for the next global crisis.
While most preppers will tell you that it is crucial to stockpile food and water, there is also a need for medication and supplement supplies. In the event of an emergency, you may not have access to a rounded diet which can lead to malnutrition. Your body requires certain vitamins and minerals to survive. When you can’t get what you need from your diet, having the right supplements on hand can help to support your body.
When it comes to being able to get medications in an emergency, many people may be in trouble. Pharmacy supplies are likely to be looted or have diminished supplies during an emergency. It’s best to stockpile your prescription medications and have the right replacement medications on hand. There are many natural alternatives to modern medications that can be useful in an emergency. For example, opioid pain medications can be replaced with CBD products from Joy Organics. Let’s take a closer look at a few supplements that you should be stockpiling in your emergency kit.
Iron
Iron deficiencies are common across the world. Without enough iron in your diet, you can experience fatigue, muscle weakness, and anemia. Iron is commonly found in meats and vegetables which may not be available during a crisis. A daily iron supplement can help you to maintain your energy levels which can be critical in an emergency.
Zinc
The 2020 pandemic showed us how important it is to maintain a strong immune system. During a crisis, the added stress on your body can affect your immune system’s ability to keep you safe from infection. To help keep your immune system strong, you need to have zinc in your diet. A zinc supplement can help to boost your immune system. For children, a zinc supplement can help regulate healthy growth and development.
Vitamin A
Normally found in dairy products and certain vegetables, vitamin A is crucial to your eye and reproductive health. In the event of a global disaster, you don’t want to experience problems with your vision or your ability to have a healthy child. Vitamin A supplements can help you to boost your immune system to help fight off issues with your eyes and your reproductive power.
Thiamine
Thiamine or vitamin B1 is crucial to the process of turning food into energy. Specifically, Thiamine assists in the process of turning carbohydrates into energy, helping you to maintain your body and fight off fatigue from an abnormal diet. Without enough Thiamine, you can experience extreme fatigue, weight loss, short-term memory problems, and mental confusion.
Folate (B9)
Folate or folic acid is a crucial vitamin for red blood cell generation and DNA production. Most of us get enough folate in our normal diets, but in the event of a crisis where your food supply is interrupted, you may not be getting the Folate that you need.
Vitamin B-12
Many people suffer from a deficiency of vitamin B-12. Serious conditions like pernicious anemia can result in extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness. When your deficiency is left untreated, you may have difficulty walking due to muscle weakness. In a crisis situation, you will need to be in the best shape possible.
Vitamin D
Most of us get our recommended dosage of vitamin D from sunshine. However, if you are hunkered down in a crisis, you may not be able to get as much vitamin D as you need. vitamin D is especially important for children and seniors, as it encourages strong bone growth and regulates calcium absorption.
Calcium
In an emergency situation like a breakdown of the grid, you will be hard-pressed to find any dairy that hasn’t gone bad without refrigeration. Dairy products are where we get most of the calcium that helps to keep our bones strong. Having a calcium supplement in your emergency kit can help you replace dairy products. Calcium is an important supplement for children as it encourages strong bone development.
Multivitamins
A good quality multivitamin will be worth its weight in gold during an emergency. If you only have room for one type of supplement in your emergency kit, you should make it a multivitamin. Your daily multivitamin will help to keep your body fueled with the minimum nutrients and help prevent deficiencies. Ensure that you have multivitamins that are structured for each member of your family. Include multivitamins that are for women, seniors, men, and children.
Common Medication Substitutes
Many people rely on prescription and over-the-counter medications. In the event of an emergency situation, you may not have access to the medications that you need. The good news is, there are many natural alternatives to modern medications that can be used as a substitute. Let’s take a look at a comprehensive list of common medications and their natural substitutes.
Blood Thinners
Millions of seniors take blood thinners to help regulate their blood pressure and reduce the possibility of a stroke or heart attack. Patients simply take a low-dose aspirin daily as an effective blood thinner in many cases. Aspirin may not be available in an emergency along with prescription medications for blood thinning. If you require a blood thinner to maintain your health, try one of these substitutions:
Natural Vitamin E
- Must be natural, not synthetic
- 100 IU’s of vitamin E can be as effective as a daily aspirin
Ginkgo Biloba
- Used to reduce clotting and encourage proper circulation
Water
- Increase your water intake to an average of eight glasses daily to help thin your blood
Painkillers and Anti Inflammatories
In the event of an emergency, there is a much higher risk of injury and illness. Prescription medications including opioids will not likely be available for patients. Managing pain during a crisis can be essential. Try these natural supplements that can help reduce pain and inflammation:
CBD Products
- Cannabis oil has been proven to be a strong anti-inflammatory agent and can help reduce chronic pain.
Devil’s Claw
- Powerful anti-inflammatory for your joints
- Successfully relieves the pain of arthritis, joint and muscle pain
Turmeric
- Good for pain and inflammation
Ginger
- Eating raw ginger or drinking tea can help with pain and inflammation.
Statins
Statins are medications like Lipitor that are commonly used to lower bad cholesterol levels. High cholesterol can increase your risk of stroke or heart attack. If you are on a statin medication, you are going to find it difficult to get your prescription in an emergency. While your diet may improve with the lack of foods available with high-fat content, you will still need to replace your statin medication with a substitute. Here are a few natural alternatives to prescription statins:
- Garlic
- Red wine
- Dark chocolate
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
Blood Pressure
For many people, daily blood pressure medication means the difference between life and death. If you are unable to get your prescription medications to control your blood pressure, you will need to find a natural alternative. While high blood pressure can be genetic, it is more often a condition that is caused by an unhealthy diet. Most of the problems can be taken care of with a change in diet. If food availability is an issue in an emergency situation, you can try these alternatives to help you control your blood pressure:
- Bananas
- Coenzyme Q-10
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Hawthorne
- Reduced Salt intake
Weight Control
Another common health issue that you can easily improve upon and treat with the right supplements is being overweight. While the best course of action here is always to exercise more and eat healthier, there are times when you might find that you need to supplement those activities with the right medication, which is something that a lot of people have to do in that position. Knowing that it is possible to do so is a great feeling to have. For individuals experiencing swallowing difficulties, incorporating a medical diet for dysphagia can be essential for managing weight and enhancing overall health.
Any weight loss program can be improved with the right meds in place, and you should therefore consider whether you want to stock these kinds of supplements along with the other types listed here. It might be that they prove to be especially important for you at some point or another, and it could help to generally boost your health as a result.
Antacids
Chronic heartburn or acid reflux are conditions that plague millions of people worldwide. While antacids can help control the influx of stomach acid and upset, there are natural alternatives that can help calm your stomach. If left untreated, indigestion can cause serious problems like bleeding ulcers. Try these natural alternatives for antacids:
- Almonds – naturally reduce stomach acid
- Aloe vera juice can help to heal ulcers
- Apples
- Bananas
- Buttermilk
- Cinnamon
- Chamomile
- Ginger
- Peppermint
Type 2 Diabetes
There is currently no approved alternative treatment for type 2 diabetes. However, there are many natural foods and vitamins that can help control the body’s glucose levels. In a SHTF situation, there may be few alternatives to proper diabetes treatment available, and having some of these alternatives on hand may be helpful:
- North American ginseng can help to control blood sugar levels
- Chromium is a trace mineral that helps in the processing of fats and carbohydrates in the system. Chromium also helps to improve cell reaction to insulin.
- Magnesium can help control blood sugar regulation
- Cinnamon may improve blood sucrose control
When you are suddenly separated from your normal supplies of medications due to an emergency situation, you will be happy that you are prepared. These essential supplements and medication alternatives can not only help keep you nourished, but will also keep you alive. Make sure that you start to stockpile these supplements and natural remedies in your emergency stocks to help you manage any emergency situation.
