With the clocks changing in the UK, it’s a reminder to think about how best to stay well through the damp dark days when colds and viruses are just waiting to leap out and invade.

Whether or not you choose to have one or more of the vaccines on offer, like flu, Covid and the less well known but nasty RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), it makes sense to support your immune system in every way possible.

So you know the drill! Warm food, lots of vegetables (I’ve just made a big pan of soup with sweet potatoes, carrots, garlic and ginger which I lace with olive oil and parsley at the table), fruit (I take a bag to pick up windfall apples which I cook until soft then puree – lots of delish ways of eating), and probiotics/fermented foods, full fat natural yogurt for me but you might be a devotee of more exotic options like kimchi and kombucha (like Jo’s husband).

In search of supplements, I turned as usual to our go-to pharmacist Shabir Daya. He says: 

‘I have not seen anything as comprehensive as Daily Immunity with the herbs that enhance white blood cell counts, vitamins C and D for their varying roles in immune support, mushroom extracts for beta glucans which influence macrophages (cells that engulf bacteria and viruses), probiotics etc.’

Do read up on this because basically it’s a powerhouse of immune system primers, vitamins and herbs, which are suitable for anyone over 12.  As Shabir says, a number of factors including high stress levels, close contact in confined areas (offices, classrooms, public transport for instance), lack of sleep and nutritional deficiencies can all play a role in compromising the immune system. 

I also want to tell you about one of my all time favourite supplements: 10 Day Get Well Stay Well. After I had two recent bouts of what was probably a norovirus going round locally, with some people ending up in hospital owing to dehydration, I felt like the proverbial wet rag. Gill remembered that 10 Day had helped me in the past and sent me supplies. Oh my word! It was really amazing: within a couple of days I was bouncing around again. My energy returned pretty much within a week and by the time I finished the 10 Day course, I was back to being the Tigger that Jo has dubbed me for decades.  Actually, my husband reminded me that years back when we were due to go to New York and had the most appalling colds/coughs, it was 10 Day that got us well enough to go.