As the festive season approaches, a leading pharmacist has issued an urgent health warning, urging Brits to start taking a simple, over-the-counter pill from December 1st to help ward off colds and flu.
With Christmas on the horizon, falling ill is a common worry. Pharmacist Frederick Apenteng from Roseway Labs emphasises that preparation is half the battle when it comes to staying healthy during the winter months.
Stocking Your Winter Medicine Cabinet
According to Apenteng, the first step is to ensure your medicine cabinet is well-stocked to tackle symptoms quickly if they arise. He recommends keeping a supply of essentials to avoid a last-minute scramble when you're already feeling unwell.
The key items to have on hand include:
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain, fever, and muscle aches.
- Throat lozenges or sprays for sore throats.
- Two types of cough syrup: an expectorant for chesty coughs and a suppressant for dry, tickly coughs.
The Immunity-Boosting Power of Supplements
While a stocked cabinet is crucial for reactive care, Apenteng suggests that taking a proactive approach with daily supplements can provide valuable support for your immune system. He is quick to note that they are not magic bullets, but they can make a significant difference when combined with a healthy lifestyle.
His top recommendation is a daily 10µg vitamin D supplement, a guideline supported by The British Nutrition Foundation and the NHS. With sunlight exposure at its lowest in winter, our bodies struggle to produce adequate vitamin D, making supplementation vital.
Other beneficial supplements include zinc, which may help shorten the duration of a cold if taken early, and probiotics, which support gut health—a key component of the body's immune system.
Foundation of Good Health: Diet and Lifestyle
Apenteng stresses that supplements work best alongside a solid foundation of good health. The real immunity boosters are sleep, good nutrition, and hydration, he stated.
He points out that people often become run down due to nutrient gaps. A balanced diet rich in iron, B-vitamins, and vitamin C is essential for keeping your immune defences strong. Foods like leafy greens, citrus fruits, and whole grains can make a real difference in your overall wellness during the colder months.
Why Vitamin D is a Winter Essential
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that aids the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, promoting healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. A deficiency can lead to serious bone conditions like rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, and it can also impair immune function.
The NHS advises that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during autumn and winter when the sun is not strong enough for our skin to produce it. While some foods like oily fish and fortified products contain vitamin D, it is difficult to get enough from diet alone.
It is important to note that while there have been reports about vitamin D reducing the risk of COVID-19, the NHS states there is currently not enough evidence to support taking it solely for that purpose. Between late March and the end of September, most people can get enough vitamin D from sunlight and a balanced diet.
Anyone concerned about taking a new supplement should always speak to their GP before making any changes to their health regimen.
