Experts have said that while some people take vitamins and minerals to help their heath, it can be rendered useless if they don’t use them correctly. Making sure you get this right is key. It’s not just remembering to take your supplements, but also about the sequence in which you take them.
The warning comes as research shows some nutrients are more effective when taken together meaning the benefits are enhanced. So to help people stay healthy and ensure they are getting what they need, Holland and Barrett resident nutritionists, Madalena Vieira Costa and Sonia Sadique, have revealed what you can do to ward off the cold and flu this autumn and winter.
“Nutrients don’t just function in isolation – they team up in two ways: by supporting your body’s functions and helping each other absorb better,” says Madalena adding: “Plus, some vitamins and minerals can actually block each other’s absorption, too. So, while a general multivitamin might seem like the convenient option, it’s not always the best choice if you’re trying to fix a specific deficiency.”
So what can I take to help keep the cold and flu at bay? If you are after some immune support this cold season, you can stack magnesium and vitamin D together. “When colds and flu start doing the rounds, it’s worth taking extra steps to support your immunity,” they say.
You can pick up these Vitamin D 10 µg Food Supplement from Boots here. This comes in a pack of 180 tablets which equals 2p per daily dose. You can also buy Seven Seas Complete Multivitamins for adult. For 28 tablets from Superdrug, this will also cost just pennies per dose at just 17p.
Taking “bug-busting power pairings” such as vitamin D and magnesium can help “reduce inflammation, support immune cell production and manage stress,” according to studies. “Not many people realise that vitamin D supplements come in an inactive form that the body can’t use directly,” explains Madalena. “We need in the mix to convert this inactive vitamin D into its active form so that we can reap the health benefits. Without sufficient magnesium, the vitamin D you buy and take won’t be effective.”
There’s an important caveat to this seasonal health hack, though: “Magnesium can interact with some medications and has numerous contraindications, which can often outweigh the benefits of supplementation,” the expert further warns. Because of this, everyone is urged to check with their GP or a pharmacist before “introducing anything new to your routine.”
