The seasons are changing, the nights are drawing in and the temperature is dropping; so, it’s more important than ever to prioritise your health and put your immunity first. At Nourished we are passionate about personalised nutrition which fits around your lifestyle and goals. As the flu season approaches, make sure you also update your nutrition regime, so you don’t fall behind this fall and remain fighting fit!
Winter is coming, so it’s crucial that we ensure our body gets all the nutrients it needs to fight off germs. At Nourished we are true believers in ‘prevention before cure’, so we’ve outlined some vitamins, super-foods and general tips to help you feel your best in the coming months.
Vitamin D
This well-known vitamin is normally created by the body when exposed to direct sunlight on the skin and contributes to the normal function of the immune system. The NHS recommend that we supplement Vitamin D during October and early March when we aren’t able to get as much sunlight, and have also suggested taking it during the recent lockdown if stuck in doors most of the day.
A recent study by Boston University has also suggested that supplementing Vitamin D can help to support the immunity and respiratory systems, as well as reduce complications caused by the COVID-19 virus.
Most Vitamin D supplements are sourced from lanolin which is the oil in sheep’s wool. But at Nourished we don’t like to follow the flock, so we sourced ours from a mixture of algae and lichen fungus species which grow in Northern Canada, so our Vegan Vita-algae D3 is 100% plant based and natural!
Vitamin C
Supplementing Vitamin C is commonly used to help prevent catching colds and viruses during the winter season. By helping your body to produce important antibodies and stimulating the production and function of white blood cells, this famous vitamin is thought to have many healing powers. At Nourished we source our Vitamin C from Camu Camu, an Amazonian berry with one of the highest Vitamin C concentrates in the world.
Probiotics
Probiotics are known to help support the immune system by restoring the balance of our gut flora by limiting the growth of more harmful gut bacteria. Promoting the health of our ‘second brain’; it is thought probiotics can enhance the creation of natural antibodies in the body and boost certain immunity cells.
We use a probiotic sourced from LactoSpore, which has the best and most extensively researched absorption rates of any available probiotic strains. Furthermore, we encapsulate our probiotic in our vegan, pectin gel which helps to protect the friendly bacteria from the harsh conditions of the stomach and deliver it safely to the intestines where it can get to work!
Beta Glucan
Studies have shown that this soluble fibre, which is sourced from yeast, can help to moderate the immune system to make it more efficient, and has been shown to lower blood cholesterol. It is also thought Beta Glucan can stimulate the activity of macrophages; adaptable immune cells which help to attack invading diseases and germs.
What else can you do?
Staying fit and healthy is all about balance and consistency. By practicing what we preach you can help to get your health in the best shape for all those snuggly nights in front of the fire;
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Try to do at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, even if it’s a stroll through the autumn leaves.
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Eat a balanced diet, which includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
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Get lots of beauty sleep!
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2020 has been a challenging year for all of us, and stress can effect our bodies natural ability to fight off viruses – so be kind to yourself.
Find out which high impact active ingredients are recommended to help you stay on top of your game this winter by completing our short lifestyle questionnaire, or make your own bespoke blend in our lab. Alternatively, check out our Inner Defence Life Stack which has been specifically formulated by our in-house nutritionists to support the bodies natural immune system.
