Top Up Your Essential Winter Vitamins: Vitamin C, Iron and More
Dec 28, 2022
Vitamins and Supplements
When winter hits there are seasonal things we need to consider. Are the tyres on the car ok? Do we have the anti-freeze at the ready? Has anyone seen the salt for the drive and have we put the cover on the outside tap? Winter maintenance on our houses and vehicles is something we do without thinking about. Why do we often forget that our bodies need a little extra attention in the colder season too?
Our skin has different needs in the winter (more on that here), and so does the rest of our body. For example, vitamin C and iron are very important over winter. Did you know that our bodies can’t make vitamin C naturally so it must come from our diet or a vitamin supplement?
What is Vitamin C Good For?
First of all, taking vitamin C, according to the NHS, is unlikely to prevent you from getting a cold and taking it when you get a cold won’t necessarily reduce the severity although it may shorten the length of a cold slightly. With this in mind, why is vitamin C important in winter?
Adults aged between nineteen and sixty-four need 40mg of vitamin C a day and most people should be able to get that from their diets. Anyone on an alternative/restrictive diet can struggle and this is where a supplement can come in handy, especially as the body can’t store vitamin C.
Health-boosting vitamin C helps maintain your immune system by protecting healthy cells, skin, blood vessels, bones and more. During winter we can naturally find ourselves more tired, and less inclined to go out and exercise. Our diets typically become less healthy thanks to winter comfort foods and treats. Making sure your vitamin C levels stay boosted can help you feel better and stay healthier all year and especially over the cover months.
On the flip side, a vitamin C deficiency is known to increase your risk of getting poorly which is why a vitamin C supplement can be a useful tool for staying well.
Why is Iron Important Over Winter?
Amongst other things, iron helps with the absorption of vitamin C and can also help regulate your temperature. This is something you want to be working well, especially when the weather turns. Fatigue can be a common sign that your iron levels are lower than they should be. If you think your iron levels may be deficient, the SureSign iron deficiency home test makes it easy to check. These results can be shown to your GP who may want to run full blood tests to check levels and perhaps prescribe medication if levels are very low.
Taking Ferrous Sulfate if indicated can be a good way to prevent low-iron anaemia. If you aren’t sure if you should be taking an iron supplement talk to our pharmacist or your GP.
Zinc as an Immunity-Boosting Power
Zinc is responsible for growing cells, building protein, and maintaining a healthy immune system. When coupled with vitamin C this duo covers all the bases. You don’t need a lot of zinc but ensuring you have enough is key to good health. It’s easy to make sure your levels are sufficient by using something like these Zincovit-C lozenges, which, as the name suggests offers you Zinc and vitamin C in only handy chew.
SimplyMeds Online Products to Boost Your Immunity and Wellness Over Winter
Here at SMO, we work hard to ensure that we have everything in stock that you need to be healthy and feel good whatever the season. Winter health needs are different to summer ones and the more you know about what your body needs, the easier it is to make sure you are taking care of yourself and your family as well as possible.
It’s important to keep all of your essential vitamins and minerals topped up. These are what keep your body working as it should and you feeling well. A good multivitamin is a valuable tool when it comes to boosting your health and maintaining a good immune system. Products such as Berocca are easy to use and are packed with essential vitamins, including vitamin C and zinc.
Eating a healthy and balanced diet is a good way to give your body the fuel and the nutrients it needs but when a little extra support is needed, we have plenty of vitamin-containing products available so that you can choose what best suits your needs.
For more information on all things health-related, you might find our SimplyMeds Online blog a useful resource.
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