September marks the month of change. After spending lazy days on holiday with family and friends, it’s time to get back into a routine, and for many, this autumn has become a brand-new routine. Getting back into the workplace, classroom or maybe even university brings a mixture of emotions: excitement and happiness, apprehension, worry and anxiety.

Self-care is something that must not be overlooked. As we head “inside” as the months become colder and the days become shorter, the first thing to consider is supporting the health of our immune system.

The optimal functioning of the immune system is reliant on many factors, including proper nutrition, adequate sleep, stress management, gut health and moderate exercise. Did you know that 70% of our immune system resides in our gut? Yes, our gut (or digestive system) is a special place of focus.

Who likes eating? Well I am sure we all can relate to that! Balancing the “treats” with the “nutrients” is something to consider. Your digestive system LOVES nutrient dense foods, especially those that are in season, and of course nutrients that support your digestive system to be the best it can be. Key nutrients to support digestive health and help it to function normally include vitamins A, B, C, D and also magnesium, calcium and fibre. Of course, water is also a key nutrient that is important too, and is found in many fruits and vegetables.

Autumn

Try and shop local and “home grown”. Have a nosy at what is in season through the autumn.

Here are a  few suggestions:

Meat: chicken, grouse, ham, Heather-fed lamb, pork, sausages, venison

Vegetables: field mushrooms, lettuce, marrow, potatoes, pumpkin, rocket, squash, sweetcorn, watercress

Fruit: apples, blackberries, damsons, elderberries, pears, plums, sloes

Fish: brill, dab, dover sole, flounder, oysters, skate

Back to school meal planning

Making a shopping list and planning family meals ahead of time can help to minimise the reliance on fast, convenient foods and sugary snacks when time is minimal. If your child has packed lunches, aim to prepare the night before so there is no last-minute rush in the morning, which will affect preparation time and choice. Including your kids in the planning of their own lunch may help to ensure they will eat it!

Top up with supplements

The key is to eat a balanced and varied diet. We all know that sometimes, when we are in a rush, dealing with the “battle of the broccoli” is too much. If you want to give our immune system some extra support, Forever have a range of products to support all of the family’s needs.

Here is what I called my 1-2-3-steps of supplement support:

Aloe Vera

We have four different flavours to choose from, so choose which one is your favourite. Love them all.? Well just enjoy each different flavours on different days. Each one has a cocktail of nutrients to support your body to be the best it can be. It’s great to know that our Aloe Vera Gel, Aloe Berry Nectar and Aloe Peaches contain a rich source of vitamin C to help support immune health.

Forever Daily or Forever Kids

Forever Daily is a powerful multivitamin that delivers 100% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of essential vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, C, D and B12, iron, calcium and zinc. And for the kids, Forever Kids are lovely chewable multivitamins for the children over the age of 3.

Forever Active Pro B

Forever Active Pro-B contains six strains of friendly bacteria (microbiome is friendly bacteria that resides in out gut). This supplement now also has the addition of zinc, which is known to help support the normal immune system, our vision, as well as the synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

One of my favourite “kitchen cupboard items” is Forever Supergreens!

This versatile supplement contains over twenty fruits and vegetables as well as aloe. Key nutrients also include vitamin C, which contributes to the normal function of the immune system, vitamin E which contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress and magnesium which contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, reduction of tiredness and fatigue, electrolyte balance and psychological function. Alkaline green veggies like spinach, kale and broccoli, plus the mineral magnesium supports a healthy pH electrolyte balance.

I love to add it to my glass of Aloe Vera Gel and Forever Freedom in the morning alongside ARGI+ and Nutra- Q10, but as a family we add it to our Forever Ultra Lite shakes, pasta sauces, vegetable soups and even make pancakes with it!!

Every day I take Forever Immublend as part of my daily supplement support. Firstly you will find Fructooligosaccharides –  this is actually insoluble fibre and is “food” for your healthy bacteria that resides in your gut. Another ingredient called  Lactoferrin – a protein that can bind easily with iron, and is found throughout the human body including the immune system. Then we have important vitamins C, D and zinc which are all known to support the normal function of the immune system. Vitamin D comes from exposure to sunlight, and during the autumn and winter months we have less sunny days, so this supplement also contains our recommended 10 micro grams.

Back to work, college and university

As people head back into the “work” environment we need to keep those “cogs” turning! Cognitive function refers to our brain’s capacity for memory, reasoning, learning and focus. Busy lives juggling your career, home life and children all have an impact. Living in a digital world, doing online video meetings, and seminars is all become more taxing. Shift working and long-distance driving, as well as maturing adults can all add up to mental burnout.

Every part of our body needs energy, and of course this includes our brain. Citicoline, is a vital nutrient found naturally in every cell of the body including the eyes and brain. Forever Focus contains this in the form of clinically studied Cognizin as well as traditional herbs, vitamins and minerals, so don’t just get through the day, take charge of it!

Alongside this it also contains L’Tyrosine: an amino acid thats role in the body is as a precursor for neurotransmitters dopamine and adrenaline. Zinc also contributes to normal cognitive function and to the protection of cells from oxidative stress, as well as supports the function of the immune system. Finally, vitamins B6 and B12 contribute to normal functioning of the nervous system and normal psychological function, as well as helping reduce the feeling of tiredness and fatigue. They also contribute to supporting immune health.

After I have had my Forever supplements in the morning , I enjoy my cup of  freshly brewed coffee, the perfect drink to accompany the Forever Focus capsules. Then I am ready for whatever life has in store me!