Supplements for expat life

Hi everyone,

So, recently (a little less than 3 weeks ago), I moved to Delhi and I've been living the way everyone here advises. Which means, no tap water, no ice, avoiding fresh fruit even salads etc.
I believe this is the reason I've had absolutely no stomach problems so far.

The problem, however, is that due to avoiding all this stuff, I'm missing out on important nutrients. Eating only cooked food and nothing fresh, I'm probably missing out on most vitamins.

Do you have any multivitamin/mineral supplements you can recommend? Any quality brands? Any herbal supplements?

Since I got here, I bought ashwagandha and brahmi herbal supplements, and I can say, they have been helpful (especially the adaptogen properties of ashwagandha). Withstanding the extreme heat and the general stress factors of moving to India has not been an issue for me, and I think aswagandha played a role in this (not too sure about brahmi).

Why on earth are you avoiding fresh fruit and vegetables?? There is quite simply no need to do this, especially if you are going to be in India for a long time...

Buy some iodine make a solution with mineral waterand wash fruit/veggies yourself..Also you can make your own ice without too much trouble (I take it you have a fridge)

Absolutely. In fact, I know people who do all that stuff in UK, although I think they are more interested in removing chemicals than germs so probably don't use iodine. Still, an apple that you pick up from a Western supermarket shelf may have been handled by a hundred people before you, and may be as loaded with microbes as any such fruit from an Indian fruit shop.

Just adapt the techniques. No need to go without. Not to mention all the fresh fruit that is peel-and-eat. (or is it peal? I never know which is bells!)
If (or when) you have your own place, I strongly recommend having your own reverse-osmosis water purifier. This is just a domestic-size version of the equipment that "mineral" water bottles and cans get filled from, but it has the advantage of unlimited clean water and a known maintenance history. Get it serviced every three months to be safe. Of course, that's what to make your ice from too.

I was told by a few people, and I think I saw it mentioned somewhere in the forums, that it's best to avoid it in the beginning, and just eat cooked food. I never really questioned, but now I feel like I'm missing fresh fruit a lot. Especially in this weather.

Nick, I will definitely look into reverse-osmosis purifier. Do you know how much this kind of thing costs?

Mangoes, oranges, Guava, Papaya, Melon, apples all safe when peeled get out there and enjoy yourself..ONE dodgy fruit in my experience grapes, wash thoroughly before eating

Not sure now. Ours was over twenty thousand. I think prices have come down, I think.

I eat apples with skin, just rinsed, no more. Doesn't mean I'd advise it, but as time goes on, you just do things less by the book, and don't get ill anyway.

But no theory is perfect: I had a minor 16-hour tummy upset only three days ago --- from a restaurant that I have been to quite few times, and will go to again!