10 WAYS TO EAT FOR Winter Wellness

Nourish your body from the inside out this winter with nutrient-packed foods that will support the immune system and boost mood.

- Lola Bigga

01. Embrace nutritious winter warmers

Hearty soups and stews aren't just comforting, they're nutritional powerhouses. Root vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes and parsnips are packed with beta-carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A to support immune function. Add protein-rich pulses such as lentils or chickpeas for sustained energy, and finish with a handful of leafy greens. The liquid base helps keep you hydrated when you might not feel like drinking cold water, and the warmth aids digestion during the colder months.

02. Fuel your immune system

With limited sunlight exposure in winter, it's crucial to get vitamin D from your diet. Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines are excellent sources, alongside eggs and fortified dairy or plant-based alternatives. Vitamin D plays a vital role in immune function and mood regulation; many people experience low mood in winter partly due to vitamin D deficiency. Aim for at least two portions of oily fish per week as, while mushrooms provide some vitamin D, they contain D2 rather than the more effective D3 form. If you're following a plant-based diet or struggling to get enough from food, Together Health's Vegan Vitamin D3 (£7.49, togetherhealth.co.uk) is sustainably sourced from algae and provides the same form of vitamin D your body produces naturally from sunlight.

03. Spice it up