'I'm an NHS GP and these two vital vitamins really work to reduce cold and flu symptoms'

An NHS GP has recommended a simple and cost-effective remedy to combat the common cold and flu. Doctor Shireen, known on TikTok as doctorshireen, shared her personal experience, claiming "it really works". In her educational video, she described the tip as "extremely easy" and assured it can "reduce the duration and severity of any cold you have this winter".

She encouraged viewers to give it a go, dubbing it "the best investment of your time", and advised that at the first signs of illness, such as an itchy throat or runny nose, immediate action is crucial. She instructed: "The second notice an itchy throat, a runny nose, itchy, burning eyes - anything that might suggest you've got a cough or cold coming - what I want you to do is take two things - vitamin C and zinc".

These supplements are affordable, with a 180 tablet bottle available for around £2 from supermarkets like Asda, working out at approximately 1.1p per tablet. There are even options as cheap as £1.20 for tablets you dissolve into water.

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For those who dislike swallowing pills, she mentioned: "You can actually get tablets that you can pop into water - just start it. You can't prevent coughs or colds, but research is out there to show that taking zinc and vitamin C reduces the duration and severity. I've personally been doing this for the last couple of years and I can tell you it really works."

However, people should seek advice when taking tablets to ensure they are safe for consumption. This warning comes as another NHS GP, Dr Karan Raj, said that "if you consume too much calcium, either in supplement form or in food, this can actually impact the iron absorption," which is vital if you're on iron tablets. This occurs because "calcium competes with iron for absorption in your intestines. High calcium also has an impact on your body's ability to absorb non heme iron". This is the type of iron found in many plant-based foods, he explains.

This is why it's often recommended to take iron tablets with a source of Vitamin C to enhance absorption - and as mentioned earlier, these can be purchased inexpensively at most supermarkets and offer multiple benefits. Bearing this in mind, the doctor suggests that when you next have breakfast, consider taking "calcium and iron at different times of the day, at least a few hours apart. So if you're drinking milk, eating yoghurt, or consuming any calcium-rich food, consider delaying your iron supplement by a few hours."

Why is Vitamin C good for me?

The NHS also emphasis how important this vitamin is stating that it:

• helps to protect cells and keeping them healthy

• helps with wound healing

• maintains healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage

What is a good source of Vitamin C?

Vitamin C is found in a wide variety of fruit and vegetables.

Good sources include:

• citrus fruit, such as oranges and orange juice

• broccoli

• strawberries

• blackcurrants

• brussels sprouts

• peppers

• potatoes

How much vitamin C do I need?

Adults aged 19 to 64 need 40mg of vitamin C a day. "You should be able to get all the vitamin C you need from your daily diet. Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body, so you need it in your diet every day", warns the NHS.

Why is zinc good for me?

Zinc helps with:

• making new cells and enzymes

• wound healing

• processing carbohydrate, fat and protein in food

What are good sources of zinc?

Good sources of zinc include:

• dairy foods – such as cheese

• meat

• cereal products – such as wheatgerm

• shellfish

• bread

How much zinc do I need per day?

The amount of zinc you need is about around 9.5mg a day for men (aged 19 to 64 years) and 7mg a day for women. You should be able to get all the zinc you need from your daily diet however. If you are taking supplements, however, the NHS warns: "Do not take more than 25mg of zinc supplements a day unless advised to by a doctor."