YOUR PERFECT PRESCRIPTION

Does it really matter if you don’t take daily vitamins? Here’s the lowdown on what’s worth it, and what’s not

- JO DUNBAR

Thanks to the pandemic, it’s no surprise that ‘immunity’ has become a buzzword in the world of supplements, with plenty of us reaching for vitamins in the hope of boosting our body’s chances of fighting the virus. We went on a spending spree, with one quarter of Brits upping their intake of supplements, and high street chain Boots reporting a 133% increase in sales.* But, is it necessary to fill up your cupboards with pill bottles? Our experts weigh in on the picks you really need...

Why eating right is rarely enough

Getting vitamins and minerals from food is important, but can be difficult. Our hectic lives, reliance on processed foods and changes in farming methods have affected how many nutrients we get. ‘We are at risk of consuming an energy-rich, but nutrient-poor diet,’ says Corin Sadler, nutritional therapist at Higher Nature. ‘Many people aren’t reaching the recommended intake for vitamin D, selenium, iron or potassium. When we are stressed we use up B vitamins, magnesium and vitamin C rapidly.’

Time to take a seasonal approach