Best winter supplements to take daily – and one 'definitely helps with gut health'

Man taking supplement
-Credit: (Image: Getty)


Winter is a time when colds certainly do the rounds, and you can feel a bit like a sitting duck waiting to catch one - and with this year's tripledemic threat, it's all the more important you maximise your immunity against illness.

Part of making your immune system stronger could include taking supplements, and one wellness guru, who posts as @clearlycamille on TikTok, shared the ones she consumes "throughout the winter" to help her "mental and physical health".

The NHS states vitamins and minerals are nutrients your body needs in small amounts to work properly and stay healthy. It added: "Most people should get all the nutrients they need by having a varied and balanced diet, although some people may need to take extra supplements."

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Camille shared the first supplement she takes throughout the winter months is vitamin D. This helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy, says the NHS.

It added: "Government advice is that everyone should consider taking a daily Vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter," but during the months of late March/early April to the end of September, most people should be able to make all the vitamin D they need from sunlight.

Camille claimed taking vitamin D helps her with "seasonal depression", and get "all the nutrients you would usually get from the sun," recommending people "definitely grab this one for the winter and fall months".

Next up were seed probiotics, which is actually "a probiotic and a prebiotic", as Camille said: "It definitely helps with your gut health, which is connected to almost everything - your skin, your digestive system." She claimed they're important during the colder months but great for "year-round".

Regarding probiotics, the NHS said: "Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts promoted as having various health benefits. They're usually added to yoghurts or taken as food supplements and are often described as 'good' or 'friendly' bacteria.

"Probiotics are thought to help restore the natural balance of bacteria in your gut (including your stomach and intestines) when it's been disrupted by an illness or treatment."

They do warn, however, that "probiotics are generally classed as food rather than medicine", which means they don't go through the rigorous testing medicines do. Because of the way probiotics are regulated, we can't always be sure that:

  • The product actually contains the bacteria stated on the food label

  • The product contains enough bacteria to have an effect

  • The bacteria are able to survive long enough to reach your gut

The NHS recommends: "If you have an existing health condition or a weakened immune system, you should talk to a doctor before taking any probiotic supplements."

Finally, Camille said she takes Lion's Mane Mushrooms, as they're "great for cognitive health". She revealed: "They're great for brain fog, which we can sometimes get in the winter."

According to Holland & Barrett, there is "limited research available" surrounding the benefits, but they are thought to potentially "help with anxiety" and "may support brain function".

They shared: "Lion’s mane mushrooms contain two specific compounds, hericenones and erinacines, which are alleged to protect the brain from the cognitive effects linked to ageing."

Holland & Barrett did warn "most of the studies so far have been limited to animals, so the actual effects on humans are unknown," highlighting you should consult with a doctor before adding Lion's Mane Mushrooms to your diet.

It's important, especially if you are currently on medication, to consult with your GP before adding supplements to your diet. Please make an appointment with your doctor to discuss before making any decisions.