The Top Supplements You Should be Taking this Winter

The Top Supplements You Should be Taking this Winter

December 31, 2018

Top Supplements You Should be Taking this Winter-

Winter is here and we all welcome the new year with great joy. However, with the change in weather people may be prone to a cough, cold, fever, throat infection, etc. To avoid this, let’s make a resolution to be fit and healthy. With the onset of New Year, let us promise ourselves to take a properly balanced diet, exercise and include supplements for the winter season.

Why Supplements are Essential?

Taking supplements has become an integral part of our lives. We cannot entirely rely on our diet for the supply of nutrients. Every one or two persons in a family, be it a child, young or old, is seen popping a multivitamin pill. This is because of today’s hectic lifestyle, disturbed environmental balance, processed foods, nutrient-depleted soils, environmental toxins etc. These factors have compelled us to take supplements in the form of vitamins, probiotics, etc.

People include dietary supplements in the form of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes,  herbs to promote a healthier lifestyle. The most trending supplement is multivitamins. To boost your nutritional content, here is a quick list of vitamins that are essential especially in winter :

  1. Vitamin C
  2. Vitamin D
  3. Vitamin B
  4. Zinc

We will discuss the importance of each one of these supplements in the coming series. Let us now discuss Vitamin C also known as ascorbic acid with great antioxidant properties.

Vitamin C as a Supplement

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that cannot be stored in the body. Ideally, you should get all the required quantity of vitamin C from your daily diet. If the quantity is not enough, include it as a dietary supplement. An average individual aged 20 to 60 will need at least 40 mg of vitamin C. This value may be on the higher side in pregnant and lactating women. Deficiency of this vitamin may lead to scurvy, poor wound healing, joint pain, bleeding gums, anaemia, etc.  Let us try to gain more knowledge about the role of vitamin C in our body.

Importance of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a vital nutrient responsible for several bodily functions as listed below:

  1. Fighting  infections
  2. Speeding up wound healing
  3. Production of collagen and neurotransmitters
  4. Promoting better absorption of iron
  5. Lowering the risk of cataracts
  6. Helping in the treatment of cancer
  7. Deterioration of kidneys, nerves, and eyes is reduced to a great extent especially in diabetic patients
  8. Maintaining cardiovascular health
  9. Maintaining cholesterol levels

Vitamin C has great antioxidant properties. It boosts your immunity level by almost 30% by helping white blood cells to function more effectively. It strengthens the defence system of your skin, relaxes the blood vessels, in turn, reducing the blood pressure levels. It helps in significantly reducing the bad LDL which in turn lowers the risk of heart disease. It aids in better absorption of iron thus reducing the risk of anaemia. It improves your memory thereby reducing the risk of dementia. It helps in repairing tissue and reducing the damage caused by inflammation.  It aids in the prevention of oxidation of other molecules or may regenerate other antioxidants in the body, especially during the treatment of cancer. The rate at which the growth of cancerous tissue occurs is reduced to a great extent by this vitamin. Production of collagen is an important function which helps in metabolizing proteins. However make sure you consult your doctor before taking this supplement as high dosage may lead to nausea, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal upset, kidney stones etc.

Hope you have understood that to achieve optimum health, there is no alternative but to include vitamin C as your winter supplement.

Keep your family healthy this winter

Keep your family healthy this winter

November 13, 2017

Keep your family healthy this winter

As the days grow darker, we begin to embrace the chilly winter months and look forward to a festive break with our families. However, during the seasonal period, an influx of family reunions and stressful present shopping (what do you buy a Grandma who has everything?) can cause havoc on your emotional and physical health. Not to worry, below are our top tips for keeping your family happy and healthy this winter.

Immune System

During the winter months your immune system is supressed due to a mix of the cold temperature, the lack of sunshine and a habit of eating more junk food, and as such you can become vulnerable to those pesky cold and flu bugs. Although your immune system is your body’s natural defence, during this period it may need a helping hand in keeping cold and flu viruses at bay. Exercise is a great means of improving immunity with studies showing that people who exercise have a stronger immune system than those who don’t, so why not wrap up the family and go for a brisk walk in your local park this weekend. As well as exercising, increasing your vitamin C intake can promote a healthy immune system. Try our Once A Day Immune C, and for the little ones, our Chewable Vitamin C to help give their immune system a boost.

Eat Right

We’re sure you know the old saying ‘you are what you eat’! As the weather gets colder, our bodies burn more energy to keep warm so having a nutritious and balanced diet will help your health and immunity. Try filling your Christmas roast with seasonal root vegetables such as sweet potatoes, beetroot and turnips, which are a source of fibre and are high in antioxidants. As well as incorporating fresh vegetables into your meals, try to avoid comfort food as much as possible. We all find ourselves reaching for that slice of fruit cake, but rather than storing up on junk food try to satisfy your sweet cravings with complex carbohydrates such as bananas and nuts that will release energy slowly throughout your body.  To help improve your energy levels further, try our Mega B 50 to help reduce fatigue and give you a natural boost this winter.

De-stress and rest

With the festive period being so hectic it can be easy to forget to take care of yourself.  Although many of us may be on holiday leave, it can be easy to feel like you’re still hard at work! With the kids off school, family dinners to organise and present shopping to complete, our stress levels can rise while energy levels droop.  Take time to enjoy the winter break with family and catch up on some much-needed sleep and relaxation. To make sure you don’t have a stress-mas, try our Siberian Ginseng, which contributes to physical and mental performance, helping to reduce the body’s stress levels and improve stamina.

Kid’s Health

As the kids take a break from school and embrace the freedom of the Christmas holidays it can be easy for them to get into an unhealthy routine of TV binging, junk food gorging and late nights.  Ensure your children sustain a healthy lifestyle whilst enjoying the festivities by encouraging them to exercise outdoors, having a set bedtime and maintaining a healthy diet. Plan fun activities such as ice-skating, exploring a Christmas market and baking healthy treats to keep them entertained and active. To help boost your children’s health further this winter, try our KidzBiotix to support every day digestive, gut and immune health.

Beat the blues and stay active this winter

Beat the blues and stay active this winter

October 6, 2017

Beat the blues and stay active this winter

As the last rays of summer fade away we trade our floral dresses and sandals for cosy jumpers and ankles boots with winter upon us. Although it can be tempting to stay indoors during the cold months, regular exercise helps to keep your muscles and bones strong, increases your circulation and energy levels and helps to keep your overall health at its peak. Don’t let your health disappear along with the sunshine! Below we have our top tips for exercising during the winter and the best methods of ensuring the cold doesn’t stop you from being active.

Tired today…Tired everyday!

During the dark winter months, many of us feel increasingly fatigued and our energy levels tend to take a hit as we reminiscence about summer. For some, this may be a result of vitamin B12 deficiency. B vitamins play an important role in converting your food into energy for your body. Most B vitamins are found quite easily in fresh fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, meat and fish. Yet, vitamin B12 is found only in animal foods and it can also be quite hard for the body to absorb from food. Vitamin B12 deficiency affects the body’s ability to produce red blood cells, causing symptoms such as tiredness, fatigue and muscle weakness. Constantly feeling fatigued can have a big effect on your motivation to exercise, especially when the temperatures drop over winter! So, to ensure you are getting the most out of your workout be sure to keep your vitamin B12 levels topped up. Try our Vitamin B12 tablets, which provide a healthy dose of B12 to help reduce tiredness and boost your energy, so you continue to stay active and keep your body strong throughout the winter.

Winter Aches and Pains

As we get older those aches and joint pains are more likely to occur and powering through a demanding exercise regime can become difficult, especially when the cooler temperatures arise. Yet, whilst some may believe exercising can increase joint pain, it can actually be the opposite! Regular exercise can strengthen the muscles around the joints, encouraging blood flow to the joints and preventing stiffness. Alongside exercising to alleviate pains, turmeric is known as an effective means of helping to prevent joint inflammation. Traditionally used in Chinese and Indian medicine, it is packed-full of antioxidants and has been hailed for its anti-inflammatory properties.  To help manage your joint pain over the months filled with icy winds and low temperatures, try our CurQuMax tablets. They contain curcumin, which is the main active ingredient in turmeric, helping to support your joint health as well as providing a natural pain relief for achy joints.

Slow and Steady

As the temperatures hit the lower end of the scale, your muscles and joints may take longer to get into the swing of things before a workout. In the winter months, make sure you dedicate more time to your warm-up and stretches than usual. This will help ease your muscles and joints into your movements to help prevent injuries and decrease that stiff feeling you get at the start of a workout.

Goodbye sunshine

We tend to suffer from the winter blues as the days become shorter and the rays of sunshine are scarce. While we retreat indoors for warmth and cups of hot tea, our exposure to vitamin D is reduced due to the lack of sunshine. Vitamin D is essential for strong bones, so low levels can impact your physical ability to complete your usual exercise regime. To make sure your bones are kept strong and healthy, keeping your vitamin D levels topped up is important. Try our Once A Day Sunshine D supplement, which provides you with a healthy level of vitamin D to help support your bone health throughout the winter months.

Cold Hand’s, Warm Heart

There’s an old saying ‘cold hand’s, warm heart’, yet during chilly winter months this may not be true. The change in weather can affect your heart, with the cold weather constricting your blood vessels, which can lead to higher blood pressure. This can be especially significant when exercising in the cold, as your heart works harder to keep your body warm. So, it’s important to wrap up in layers whilst exercising outdoors, which you can remove once your body is warmed up and then replace when cooling down after your workout. For some extra help to keep your heart healthy and improve your circulation during winter, try our Kyolic 1000, which promotes normal heart, liver and immune functions as well as improving blood circulation and supporting healthy blood pressure levels.

Immune boosters to help you through the winter

Immune boosters to help you through the winter

September 15, 2017

So long, summer. It’s that time of year again where the sun starts to disappear and the temperature begins to drop. As the colder months approach, don’t let that pesky winter cold come knocking! Read our top tips and hear about the best natural products to keep your immune system healthy to help fight off common colds and viruses.

Wholefoods  

With the threat of coughs, colds and flus on the horizon, it’s now time to strengthen your immunity. A healthy diet goes a long way, so you can help yourself by eating a diet rich in wholefoods. A rainbow of fruits and vegetables, seeds, nuts and seafood in particular are important nutrients for the healthy functioning of your immune system. To help give your immune system an extra boost in strength, try our Immune System Biotix that include a powerful combination of seven ingredients that have been scientifically proven to support the immune system and increase resistance to disease and infections.

Get your body moving

Yes, when the temperature drops and the rain pelts down, exercise may be the last thing you feel like doing. However, it has been revealed that regular exercise can help flush bacteria out of the body and increase your circulation, which can help reduce the chances of picking up those dreaded winter colds and flus. If you’re not a regular gym bunny and find it hard to get out of your ugg-boots and into your trainers, find things to help you get motivated. For example, find a fitness buddy who will make you accountable for those gym sessions, runs or Pilates classes. You could also mix up your routine so you don’t get bored of the same workouts or even find an indoor sport to play socially with your friends!

Get some zzz’s

Getting enough sleep through the winter months may be the key to keeping your immune system healthy. Having a good night’s sleep is important for your overall health and wellbeing as it gives your body time to re-energise, re-charge and repair. Getting a solid 7-9 hours sleep each night is essential for this to happen. Make sure your bedroom is a calming, relaxing space that is ideal for sleeping. Try burning lavender or vanilla scented candles or oils before you go to bed as they are known as calming potent relaxers. Meditation is another great way to help de-stress your mind and body or simply reading a few pages of your book before you hit the sheets can also help switch-off your mind. If you do struggle getting a good night’s sleep, it may be because your magnesium levels are low. Try our Synergistic Magnesium, taken in the evening or before bed, to provide your body with healthy magnesium levels which can help your body relax and assist in better sleeping patterns.

Top up on rays

With winter on the forefront, those sun rays will be disappearing and the days will start to get darker. Vitamin D is naturally created by the body through exposure to sunlight, so with this lack of sunshine in the colder months, our natural levels can easily drop.  Vitamin D plays a key role in boosting the immune system and fighting off serious infections in the body. To ensure your vitamin D levels are kept healthy this winter, try our Once A Day Sunshine D, which not only supports your immunity  but also helps to maintain healthy bones and teeth.

The golden spice

All hail the anti-inflammatory superhero! Turmeric has been labelled as the golden spice for its numerous health benefits, including being rich in antioxidants and having anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric can attribute its health benefits to the compound curcumin, which is the main active ingredient. Since winter flus and viruses can often cause inflammation to the body, ensure this golden spice is included in your diet by adding it to your smoothie, scrambled eggs or in your winter curry or stew. To help you get your daily dose, you can also try our CurQuMax tablets, containing curcumin to contribute to the regulation of inflammatory immune responses.

Just add garlic

Turns out there’s another cooking ingredient that can help improve your immunity and it’s a staple in your kitchen cupboard. Garlic has antioxidant actions to enhance immune function which can help reduce the risk and duration of infections. So, this winter start adding more garlic to your meals! For that extra boost of garlic during the colder months, try our Kyolic Garlic 100 which is produced from organically grown cloves to help support your immune function, your liver and your heart!

Gut feeling

Your gut contains a huge amount of ‘good’ bacteria that help your body fight disease and absorb nutrients. Replenish your good gut bacteria and help strengthen your immune system by including probiotic foods in your regular diet. Probiotic foods are wholesome fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir and sauerkraut. If you don’t regularly eat these probiotic foods, you can try adding a daily probiotic supplement to your diet. Try our TumBiotix, a specialist probiotic designed for the management of digestive health.