Keep your motor running

WHY AUTUMN'S THE IDEAL TIME TO GET YOURSELF A HEALTH MOT, BY CAMILLA FOSTER

- CAMILLA FOSTER

STARTING to feel increasingly mentally and physically drained as the days grow shorter? You aren’t alone.

"This time of year is a perfect storm for illnesses because we've got reduced sunlight that leads to lower vitamin D levels, which is essential for immune function,” explains Dr Elise Dallas, GP at The London General Practice. “Also, the environment gets colder and the air gets drier, so mucous membranes in the nose and the throat, which are the body’s first defence system, get less good at fighting the airborne viruses.”

Here are eight easy expert-backed ways to conduct an autumn health MOT to reset your body and boost your health for the chillier months ahead...

1. BOOK ROUTINE HEALTH CHECKS