Sarah’s Health Notes: Stay well this winter
The key thing you can do for yourself and your family to stay healthy is to look after your immune system – the complex defence force that protects your body from outside invaders, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and toxins.
As well as Covid, there are all the usual winter infections – colds, chills and seasonal flu. Last year, the incidence was much lower due to lockdown and other Covid-related lifestyle precautions. This year, infections are already showing signs of romping around schools and virologists are warning that the situation is likely to get worse as people throw away masks, jettison social distancing and mingle unreservedly.
This week, John, Bell & Croyden pharmacy in London is hosting ‘Immunity Week’ in store (10th-16th October 2021), to help educate and advise customers about immunity. A range of experts will be on hand and there will be some innovative product ranges to discover, including Hello Day and Lashilé. So if you are in central London, JB&C is at 50-54 Wigmore Street, W1U 2AU – a stone’s throw from Bond Street tube. Definitely worth a visit.
General Manager Alexander Johnston says: ‘The recent report from Imperial College London forecasting the risk of a surge in respiratory illness this winter highlights just how important events like this are.’ The store also offers flu vaccinations plus a range of Covid testing and vaccinations (not just in Immunity Week).
There are simple things we can all do every day. Scientists say that, although they still have much to discover about how this complex and intricate system works, it obviously makes sense for all of us to take the best care possible of our general health. In particular:
• Don't smoke
• Eat well and regularly with lots of vegetables and fruit
• Keep active on a daily basis
• Maintain a healthy weight (overweight/obesity is a risk factor for many illnesses)
• If you drink alcohol, drink only a little
• Get enough sleep
• Do what you can to minimise and manage stress
To which we would add, please consider well-chosen, high quality nutritional supplements. Our [very] long-term experience is that these can make a real difference to our all-round health and quality of life. For over two decades, we have relied on pharmacist Shabir Daya, the in-house pharmacist at leading health and beauty website Victoria Health, for his expertise and advice. Trinny Woodall is another VH devotee and you can watch Trinny and Shabir talking about immunity here. Riveting!
