Be kind to your body this Winter! Are you feeling a bit more sleepy than normal and struggling to get out of bed in the mornings? It could be down to a lack of Vitamin D now we're getting shorter days, longer nights and a lot less sunshine! This is the time we need to be kind to our bodies and support ourselves as best we can. Boosting Vitamin D levels can help support our overall health, including our immune system and our mood, and what easier, yummier way than with a bottle of Get More Vits Mango & Passionfruit Vitamin D? It's like sunshine in a bottle and will help your tired eyes feel more awake again. Just because it's cold and grey outside, doesn't mean your drinks need to be any less exciting! Switch cups of tea and coffee at lunchtime and treat your body to a vitamin boost. Add sliced fruits and fresh herbs to give yourself some goodness!

The facts

The NHS have suggested that 'between October and early March we don't get enough vitamin D from sunlight'. Do you remember this study performed by the University of Birmingham back in the Summer? It details that '20% of adults and 16% of children aged between 11 and 18 years are estimated to be deficient in Vitamin D'? We really do need to think more about the type of food we eat and the drinks we enjoy in colder months. So, if you're craving  hearty, warming comfort food try to include some oily fish, red meat, liver, egg yolks or fortified foods like fat spreads and some breakfast cereals (check the box!) that contain vitamin D. Or find a supplement that works for you...like our yummy drinks ? For people at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes or those recently diagnosed, there is also evidence to suggest that supplementing with high-dose vitamin D can help to manage blood glucose balance and may slow the progression of disease. Are you getting your daily dose of Vitamin D? If not, you know what to do! See our other blog posts for more helpful tips on keeping healthy.

You may have noticed that in honour of 'Ask a Question' month, we are running a weekly Q&A on all of our social channels. Each week we have been diving into some of our most asked questions, from water consumption to the best vitamins to take to maintain a healthy immune system. This blog post dives into some of our most frequently asked questions, with a real focus on the detail. Do I really need to drink 8 glasses of water per day? Bearing in mind that the human body is made up of 60% water, the importance of hydration cannot be underestimated. We are constantly losing water, mainly through sweat and urine, and if you’re exercising or live in a hot country this will be increased. Government recommendations are to drink around eight 8-ounce glasses, or around 2 litres per day and for good reason. Even mild dehydration can affect appetite, energy levels, mood and concentration. If weight loss is a goal, research shows that drinking 500ml of water can temporarily boost the metabolism by around 25% and aiming for 2 litres can help you burn an additional 96 calories per day! Water is crucial for our overall health, and particularly beneficial for the digestive system and our skin. Thankfully we have an inbuilt system that helps to tell us when we need to top up, so if you’re feeling thirsty, don’t ignore it! Why is Vitamin D so important? Every single cell in our body has receptors for vitamin D making it arguably the most significant vitamin for overall health. Vitamin D is actually a hormone produced in our skin in response to sunlight and has a wide-ranging effect on the body. Vitamin D helps to maintain bone density by encouraging the absorption of calcium, it supports the immune system, helps to protect nerve cells and support brain health, balance our sex hormones and plays a role in healthy digestion. Unlike most vitamins it is impossible to get enough through diet alone and in the UK, due to the position of the earth we simply don’t have access to enough daylight hours in order to produce adequate levels in our skin so it is crucial to keep levels topped up. If you have darker skin you have additional reason to top up as higher levels of melanin reduce the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D. Is it ok to eat junk food if I take vitamins? In a nutshell – no. Sadly, you can’t expect to eat rubbish and top up with vitamins. Vitamins do not work in isolation and it’s far more beneficial to eat a varied diet than rely on supplementation. Eating whole foods in their natural form rather than processed and packaged by the supermarket or fast food outlets means that the wide range of nutrients in our food are able to work synergistically with our bodies, maximising our ability to absorb and assimilate all their nutritional goodness. However, we can’t cook from scratch all the time and it’s important to be realistic, aiming for an 80/20 rule works for most people and means you can have a treat now and again safe in the knowledge that for the most part your diet is giving you all the nourishment you need. However, life is busy, eating on the go is common and stress is unavoidable so consuming vitamins through drinks or supplements can definitely help to give you a boost. Are there any vitamins that can help me lose weight? Certain nutrients can definitely be helpful when trying to lose weight. B vitamins play a key role in a healthy functioning metabolism, helping to break down carbohydrates, fats and protein and release energy from our food. B vitamins are multi-functional and work best as a complex. The role of vitamin D is not clear-cut but we do know that a lack of vit D can contribute to feelings of low mood which might lead us to the biscuit tin! In this respect adequate levels of vitamin D may help to control appetite and cravings. One of the key roles of iron is oxygenating the blood, helping to create energy from the nutrients we consume as well as carrying oxygen to our muscles and encouraging them to burn fat. Magnesium is not a vitamin but a mineral, involved in over 300 enzymatic processes in the body and another key player to keep energy levels steady. You may like to think about increasing your magnesium intake if you’re hitting the gym more regularly, not just to help with energy but to ease muscle cramps, aid recovery and encourage relaxation as well, try bathing in magnesium salts post-workout. Again, not vitamins but important nutrients for weight loss are L-carnitine and chromium. L-carnitine is an amino acid which helps to transport fatty acids from food into our cells and fuel our built in ‘powerhouses’ – the mitochondria, where they are burned for energy. Chromium, a mineral, contributes to macronutrient metabolism and the maintenance of normal blood sugar levels, helping to avoid peaks and troughs, ensuring a steady stream of energy and a more balanced appetite.   If you've got a burning question you'd like to ask us, message us directly on any of our social channels and a member of our team will be happy to answer.   Don't forget you can get all your Get More Vits favourites delivered straight to your doorstep with Amazon and Ocado.  

In our first blog post of 2021, we're focusing on all things immune health! We dive into the Top 5 Vitamins that are essential to take during Winter to keep you feeling fighting fit. Staying topped up on these vits will not only help you avoid a deficiency but keep your immune system tip-top too! Let's get straight into it!

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential to maintain your immune health and support healthy bones, teeth and muscles. We can usually get enough Vitamin D during summer through exposure to sunlight, however, during the winter months, this is near impossible. The government is advising everyone to supplement their Vitamin D intake this winter, to help combat coronavirus.  Deficiencies Vitamin D deficiencies affect more of us than you might think, approximately 27% of the UK population are deficient and 74% have levels below the optimum level. Vitamin D in foods There are some great ways to increase your vitamin D intake through your diet like eating salmon, eggs and mushrooms, however, you’d have to eat at least 10 mushrooms a day to get enough Vitamin D- that’s a whole lot of mushrooms!  How to supplement We at Get More Vits want to make it as easy as possible for you to top up your vits. Our delicious and fruity Mango & Passionfruit Vitamin D drink contains your recommended daily amount, as outlined by the government, of 10 micrograms (200IU) of Vitamin D per bottle, and it’s sugar-free. We also have tablet supplements in the active form of Vitamin D, D3.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C has long been associated with strengthening the immune system and avoiding colds in winter. Whilst Vitamin C (also known as Ascorbic acid) can’t protect you from getting a cold it can reduce the length of time you feel poorly. Increasing your Vitamin C can also help you fight off germs more effectively.  How much Vitamin C do I need? We are recommended to intake 40mg of Vitamin C per day. Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body and so you need to intake it every day. If your diet isn’t perfect, supplementing might be good for you.  Vitamin C in foods Citrus fruits, especially Oranges, are usually associated with Vitamin C. But did you know, a bell pepper contains almost three times as much Vitamin C as an orange with 80mg per pepper? Other great sources are leafy greens, broccoli or cranberries.  How to supplement Get More Vits’ Vitamin C tablets contain 1000mg of Vitamin C which is 1250% of your daily dose. This may seem a lot, but as Vitamin C is water-soluble, the body will intake as much as it needs, and flush through the rest, so you can be sure you are getting enough. If you don’t like swallowing tablets, Get More Vits also have a great tasting sparkling Orange Vitamin C drink, it is sugar-free and contains 160mg of Vitamin C. 

Folic Acid

Folic acid, also known as Vitamin B9, helps the body make healthy red blood cells and plays an important role in DNA and RNA synthesis. A lack of Folic Acid can weaken your immune system.  How much Folic Acid should I be getting? Most adults need 200mg of Folic Acid per day, with pregnant women often advised to double this (speak to your doctor if you are unsure).  Foods containing Folic Acid Increasing your ingestion of foods such as leafy greens, broccoli, asparagus and kidney beans can increase your levels of Folic Acid, thus helping to strengthen your immune system. Supplements If you want to make sure you are getting enough Folic Acid (or you just really hate green vegetables) then Get More Vits Multivitamins + Iron supplements would be good for you. Each daily tablet contains 100% of your recommended dose (200mg) of Folic Acid.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is ordinarily associated with healthy vision, we’ve all heard that eating carrots helps us to see in the dark right? Well, Vitamin A is also crucial to help keep up our immune health during winter. Vitamin A deficiencies have been associated with reduced immune response and an increased risk of developing infections.  Am I getting enough Vitamin A? Vitamin A is found in tuna, eggs, leafy greens and you guessed it, carrots. But if we are not eating enough of these foods it could be a good idea to take a multivitamin supplement to avoid deficiency. Get More Vits Multivitamins + Iron supplement contains 100% of your recommended intake (800ug, Retinol Equivalent). 

Vitamin E

Vitamin E, whilst helping to maintain healthy skin and eyes, also helps to strengthen the body’s natural defence against illness and infection. Sources of Vitamin E Vitamin E compound is found in a wide variety of foods but good sources include plant oils (rapeseed, sunflower, soya, olive), nuts and seeds and wheat-based products such as cereal.  Supplementing Whilst you should be getting your recommended amount of Vitamin E (3-4mg) from your diet, if you follow a low-fat diet this may be a little trickier. Our Get More Vits Multivitamins + Iron supplement contains 50% of your recommended daily dose, so is a great way to top up. Your body can also store Vitamin E for future use- great to know!   You may have noticed a pattern with the foods we have listed to help increase your vitamin intake; vegetables!! Vegetables and fruit, of course, are essential for immune health. It’s true when they say ‘Eat your 5-a-day to keep the doctor away’, well, almost true anyway!  Increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables and plant-based foods such as beans, chickpeas and pulses is a great way to ensure you are upping your intake of vitamins.  Maybe a plant-based diet could be a good idea? Just remember, it can be difficult to get all of the essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs from a vegan diet, especially Vitamin B12. Why not accompany your new vegan diet with a bottle of our great tasting Pink Grapefruit Vitamin B12 drink? It contains 200% of your recommended dose of Vitamin B12 per serving and it’s sugar-free!  To celebrate Veganuary we have kicked things off with a competition on our Instagram. This month we have partnered up with some of our lovely plant-based friends to share with you a bundle of our favourite vegan products. What are you waiting for, go and take a look it might be your lucky day! Good luck!