Health & Lifestyle: 4 Supplements To Get You Through Autumn

The change of seasons can often be a stressful and difficult time as we adapt mentally and physically to the colder weather and fewer daylight hours. So it's more important than ever to ensure that your body is getting everything that it needs, and these four supplements can help to make the seasonal transition go much more smoothly.

Disclaimer: I have personally tested out all of the supplements below and they are all suitable for vegans, but please see a GP first if you have any queries, are taking any medication or you have any underlying health problems.

Best All-Rounder: Feel Multivitamins (£11.95 per month, link)

If you have never taken any supplements before or you're simply looking for a 'bit of everything' so that you have all your health bases covered throughout Autumn and Winter, Feel Multivitamins are the one for you. Hailed as one of the 'cleanest' multivitamins available on the UK market, Feel has come up with a superb in-house formula that boasts 33 of the best ingredients in their highest bio-availability and absorption rates. 

This ensures that taking just two capsules a day will deliver all of the essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs to perform at its best, plus some extra botanicals are included such as Reishi Mushrooms (for heart and brain health), Spirulina (for extra immunity support), Turmeric (for digestion) and Grape Seed extract (for heart health). These capsules are certified vegan-friendly, non-GMO, gluten-free and free from all the main known allergens with no additives, fillers or bulking agents. 

In addition, Feel Multivitamins come packaged in a plastic-free biodegradable paper pouch and are delivered in a slim cardboard box every month direct to your door on a subscription basis - it doesn't get more convenient or sustainable than that!

Best for Women's Health (UTIs, BV, Thrush etc) & Boosting Gut Health: Kiki Health Body Biotics* (60 x 400mg, £27.95, link)

There's been a big focus on gut health over the past few years and rightly so, but did you know that by boosting your gut health, you're also helping to improve, treat and even eradicate many common women's health problems such as UTIs, thrush and BV (bacterial vaginosis)? That's because many beneficial bacteria strains that are often found in probiotic gut health supplements can provide antimicrobial support e.g Bacillus subtilis can inhibit the growth of Candida (AKA thrush) and Lactobacillus strains have proven to be able to help treat recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bacterial vaginosis (BV).

Kiki Health's bestselling Body Biotics is a unique blend of SBO (soil-based organisms) bacterial cultures and prebiotics with eight highly-effective friendly bacteria super-strains:- Bacillus Subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, Lactococcus Lactis and Bifidobacterium Bifidum.

These strains are activated when ingested with water so it's recommended to take one capsule daily 30 minutes before a meal with a 250ml glass of water. You can then increase this to 2-3 capsules daily after a week to further maintain the benefits. Naturally free of gluten and wheat and made with a vegan-friendly hypromellose shell, the capsules don’t contain artificial colours, preservatives, sweeteners or fillers. Body Biotics does not contain salt, sugar, yeast, chemical solvents or artificial additives and comes packaged in glass.

Best for Stress, Anxiety & Fibromyalgia: Zen Bears CBD Gummies* (30 gummies, £39.95, link)

Perhaps the cutest supplements that I've ever had the pleasure of trying out, Zen Bears have been voted the UK's best CBD gummies and it's easy to see why. Made with all-natural and vegan-friendly ingredients, the THC-free CBD used is sourced from an organic hemp farm in Oregon, USA and each gummy contains 20mg. 

CBD has been making waves in the health world for its positive benefits that can help alleviate mild anxiety, depression and stress symptoms, and mild-to-moderate pain associated with arthritis and fibromyalgia. In some countries, people have also cultivated a few cannabis plants of a particular strain to help relieve their anxiety and stress. It's believed that one of the best strains is the OG Ocean Grown classic. With no known side effects, it's been touted as a natural alternative to mainstream medications but do check with your GP first if you have any concerns before taking them.

It's been a crazy year so if your anxiety has gone through the roof, why not try these? They come in a mix of fruity flavours with a sweet coating and you can start on one a day to build up to a higher dose if required. There are no artificial ingredients and the jar is made of glass.

Best Budget Option for Gut Health & Weight Loss - Jolly Jelly (60 gummies, £9.99, link)

Many gut health supplements can be pretty expensive so if you're on a budget, I would recommend trying Jolly Jelly which cost around £10 for a month's supply. Made with 95% organic ingredients, these tasty tapioca based gummies contain a carefully chosen blend of beneficial superfoods, vitamins and probiotics such as Apple Cider Vinegar, Tumeric, Ginger, Beetroot extract, Pomegranate, Vitamin B9, Vitamin B12 and the popular strain of Lactobacillus Acidophilus. 

Jolly Jelly can help to boost your overall gut health, whilst also helping to maintain a healthy weight (some people find that Apple Cider Vinegar helps them to lose weight) and a healthy metabolism. If you have a sensitive stomach, you may find these much easier to digest than other gut health-related supplements and the Apple Cider Vinegar content can help with bloating and sugar cravings too (plus they're more palatable if you find you can't tolerate drinking ACV!).

Which supplements are you currently taking?

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Foodie Friday: Top 5 Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar + Comvita Manuka Honey Apple Cider Drinking Vinegars review

Apple Cider Vinegar has been a staple in my kitchen for a few years now after I first started looking into it as a way to help some of my IBS symptoms, and I'm still in awe of the many benefits that this popular natural superstar has to offer.

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple Cider Vinegar is traditionally made from a blend of apples, yeast and a little sugar. The yeast helps to kickstart the fermentation process, and it's this stage which ensures a final result that is high in a number of minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and calcium, as well as producing levels of healthy bacteria.

Not All Apple Cider Vinegars Are Equal Though...

Although ACV has been used as a common remedy for various ailments over the centuries, it was the '70s that saw ACV have its moment in the mainstream that helped to solidify its status as a health product. Since then, the quality of some Apple Cider Vinegars has dropped to meet the increase in consumer demand, so it's important to pick one that's unpasteurised, GM-free, and with 'The Mother'.

What's 'The Mother'?

'The Mother' is a strange sounding term that sounds like something from a horror film, but it's actually just all the good stuff that should be in your ACV. It's easy to spot because it gives a naturally cloudy appearance to the vinegar in the bottle (if you see an ACV that is crystal clear it's been filtered and pasteurised so it won't have 'The Mother'). 'The Mother' basically holds together all of the proteins, healthy bacteria, beneficial nutrients and acetic acid, and without it, you won't get anywhere near the number of proper benefits that ACV has to offer. 

Due to Apple Cider Vinegar being used so widely by so many people over the centuries, its name has become attached to virtually everything - from curing hiccups to fighting off certain types of cancer. Some of these claims have absolutely no substantial medical evidence to back them up, so I wanted to focus purely on the areas where ACV has helped me personally and what most people use ACV for. Here are my Top 5 Apple Cider Vinegar benefits!

1. Helps IBS & Digestion

Thanks to the gut-friendly, healthy bacteria in ACV, it can help with things like indigestion and heartburn, as well as minor tummy upsets and some IBS symptoms like bloating, due to neutralising stomach acid. I find that it really helps to reduce the bloating aspect if I consume a teaspoon in a glass of water before having a meal.

2. Sore Throat Soother

If you feel a sore throat coming on, mix a little ACV with warm water and gargle it. This seems to work as many of the germs causing the sore throat can't tolerate or survive after being dowsed with the acidic vinegar.

3. Supporting Your Immune System

The combination of healthy bacteria and acetic acid in ACV can help to stave off mild colds, and whenever your gut is in a healthy working state, your body as a whole can usually recover quicker from minor infections. 

4. Lowering Blood Sugar Levels

If you eat a lot of carb-heavy meals, drinking a glass of water with 2-4 teaspoons of ACV helps to prevent blood sugar crashes and spikes, keeping your levels better balanced.

5. Boosting Skin Health

It's not just internal benefits that you can reap from ACV. You can use ACV topically as it's naturally high in antibacterial and antifungal properties. I've used it as a facial toner before (diluted with water in a spritzer bottle) to fight off blemish breakouts during Summer, and it can keep your skin look clearer and smoother thanks to its natural exfoliating action.

How To Take It?

Due to its acidic potency, you must always, always, ALWAYS dilute your Apple Cider Vinegar. A good way to enjoy many of its benefits is to stir a teaspoon or two into a glass of water and drink it. It does have an acquired taste though, so if you prefer something a little sweeter to take the sour edge of it slightly, you can try Comvita Apple Cider Vinegar with Manuka Honey* (750ml, £7.99, link). This one is a lot more palatable and makes a delicious salad dressing when mixed with a little olive oil!

Comvita Manuka Honey Apple Cider Drinking Vinegars* (250ml, £2.99, link)

Whilst I was trying out the Comvita Apple Cider Vinegar, I also came across their Drinking Vinegars which are ready-to drink infusions of New Zealand Manuka Honey, Apple Cider Vinegar (with The Mother), and purified water. Each bottle contains two teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar and Manuka Honey, and it's still only 26 calories per drink. I tried two of the flavours, Natural and Golden Kiwifruit. Both of these are surprisingly refreshing, especially when they're ice cold, but they do have a light vinegary taste so they're a little tangy! Something to try out if you're looking for an all-natural drink with a difference though?

Are you a fan of Apple Cider Vinegar?

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