The cold weather can often leave us feeling tired and run down, especially if our vitamin intake is low. We’ve put together a guide to the most important nutrients, so you can feel your best all year long. Here are the best vitamins for winter:
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for immune function, (1) bone health (2) and calcium absorption. (3) Our bodies naturally make vitamin D from sunlight, meaning that in the winter months our levels can drop. As a result, the Public Health body of the UK recommends daily supplementation of this vitamin between October and March. 4
Vitamin K works with vitamin D to regulate out calcium levels, so you might want to supplement both of these important nutrients.
Vitamin C
Although vitamin C can’t stop you from catching a cold, studies have shown that it can minimise the amount of time you are ill. The cells in our immune system need vitamin C to function properly, meaning that a deficiency of this nutrient causes reduced resistance to pathogens and illness. (5) Our bodies can’t make vitamin C naturally so it must come from our diet.
The benefits of vitamin C don’t' stop at immunity. This nutrient is also important for skin health, (6) cell activity and (7) cognitive function, (8) making it an all-round essential for overall wellbeing.
Vital Bites
Dark winter evenings can leave us feeling tired and lethargic. B vitamins reduce feelings of tiredness and fatigue (9) whilst also contributing to cognitive health. (10) Boost your intake with our Vital Bites, a Cookie Dough flavour snack enriched with vitamins B12, C and D and 6.7g of protein per serving.
Iron
Iron is an important mineral involved in the transportation of oxygen around the body and the absorption of vitamin C. (11) Iron also helps to regulate out body temperature, making it especially essential for the colder months.
It's estimated that two billion people worldwide suffer from iron deficiency, (12) so if you're struggling with brittle nails, fatigue or hair loss you might want to supplement your levels.
Reaching our recommended daily vitamin intake is essential at all times of the year, not just during the winter months. Without these nutrients our immune function, skin health and overall wellbeing can be affected. Find out more about immunity in our blog post:
- Vitamin D contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
- Vitamin D contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.
- Vitamin D contributes to normal absorption/utilisation of calcium.
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30335299
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19263912/
- Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin.
- Vitamin C contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
- Vitamin C contributes to normal psychological function.
- Vitamin B6 contributes to a reduction in tiredness and fatigue.
- Vitamin B12 contributes to normal cognitive function.
- Iron contributes to normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin and the absorption of vitamin C.
- file:///C:/Users/lambertk/Downloads/007-460.pdf
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