It's important to take a combination of vitamin supplements for winter to keep you feeling healthy and prevent unwanted coughs and colds. Check out our top recommendations!
This article covers the 5 best vitamin supplements for winter and a few immune-boosting tips to keep you healthy. Some of us are lucky to live in a climate where winter means the occasional light jacket or hoodie at night.
For the majority, however, this is not the case. Winter can be brutal, and it's essential to take some preventative measures to maintain optimal health while we anxiously await spring's arrival.
It's essential to eat healthily, bundle up, and get plenty of rest during these ice-cold months. In addition, finding the best vitamins for winter and choosing quality supplements can be an excellent way to ensure you make it through this season unscathed.
Here are five of the best vitamin supplements for winter that will keep you feeling great all season long!
5 Best Vitamin Supplements For Winter Wellness
1. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an essential supplement for the winter season. It's primarily obtained via direct exposure to sunlight. However, this can become difficult during the cold, dark winter months.
That's where vitamin D supplements come into play. This "sunshine vitamin" helps to contribute to bone strength, aids in the absorption of calcium, and helps to promote a positive mood.
It's important to introduce vitamin D-rich food sources in the winter, such as:
- oily fish – salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel
- red meat
- liver
- egg yolks
- fortified foods such as most fat spreads and some breakfast cereals
Furthermore, there's often confusion regarding the "3" in vitamin D3. Vitamin D is from a natural source instead of the synthetic counterpart you may know as vitamin D2.
Shop our best-selling vitamin D supplements here.
2. Vitamin C
Winter will be much more bearable with help from our friend, vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects against free radical damage, chemicals, and pollutants that may harm our body's cells.
Vitamin C is easy to obtain through diet. For example, citrus fruits, berries, kiwi, pineapple, and strawberries are a few of the best dietary sources.
If these nutrient-rich foods aren't part of your diet, you can supplement vitamin C in various forms, from tasty chewables to convenient capsules.
Shop our best-selling vitamin C supplements here.
3. Quercetin
Quercetin is an excellent immunity-boosting supplement for the winter season. This powerful antioxidant is found in many fruits and vegetables. However, many people choose to use a supplement for maximum strength and health benefits.
Taking a quercetin supplement can help your body fight off damaging free radicals and also strengthen the capillaries of your circulatory system. In addition, this popular supplement is often used for minimizing inflammation, reducing allergy symptoms, preventing hypertension, and more.
Shop our best-selling quercetin supplements here.
4. Zinc
Zinc is an often overlooked mineral with a host of important benefits. It supports proper immune function, eye health, appetite, taste, and smell.
Additionally, zinc plays a vital role in protecting our bodies from free radical damage. Men may significantly benefit from this mineral, as zinc helps to support healthy prostate tissue, sperm mobility, and testosterone production.
You can increase your zinc intake by consuming foods such as whole grains, beans, dairy, and more. Alternatively, you can try an oral supplement instead.
Shop our best-selling zinc supplements here.
5. Vitamin B Complex
Referred to as vitamin B complex, the eight B vitamins — B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12 — play an essential role in keeping our bodies running like well-oiled machines.
These essential nutrients help convert your food into fuel, allowing you to stay energized throughout the day.
While many of the following vitamins work in tandem, each has specific benefits. Vitamin B complex is the best vitamin supplement to increase energy, enhance mood, improve memory, and stimulate the immune system.
You can find vitamin B5 in almost all foods. To boost your intake of B vitamins, look for the following foods for the best vitamin supplements for winter:
- cereals, and whole grains (a source of B1, B2, and B3
- green leafy vegetables (a source of B2 and B9)
- eggs (a source of B7 and B12)
- chicken (a source of B3, B6, and B12)
- citrus fruits (a source of B9)
- nuts (a source of B3 and B9)
- kidney beans (a source of B1 and B2)
- bananas (a source of B6 and B7)
If you're not a fan of taking supplements in pill form, you may want to opt for a liquid multivitamin or a chewable form.
Shop our best-selling vitamin B complex supplements here.
Additional Tips to Boost Your Immunity During Winter
Eat a balanced diet with whole foods
To begin with, focus on eating whole foods, such as quality protein, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, as well as plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Superfoods such as bee pollen, reishi mushrooms, and microalgae can give you an extra boost.
Use those herbs and spices
Cook with onions, garlic, ginger, black peppercorn, cayenne pepper, allspice, curry, and turmeric. They contain components that help to boost your immune system.
Drink plenty of water
Water helps produce lymph, which carries white blood cells and other immune system cells. Staying hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your health during the wintertime.
For an extra boost, add a slice of lemon, which will provide extra vitamin C. You can learn how much water you should drink per day here.
Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night
Chronic fatigue is known to increase the risk of illness and disease. The body rejuvenates and strengthens when it's at rest. If you can, sleep 7 to 8 hours a day and take an afternoon nap if needed. Your body will thank you.
Say YES to friendly bacteria
It's known that about 80% of your immune system is located in your digestive system. So keeping a healthy gut is very important to maintain a strong immune system.
Probiotics are good bacteria that can be found in whole and fermented foods, such as raw sauerkraut, miso, yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and microalgae, or in the form of supplements.
Get Moving!
Lastly, exercising is not only a great way to get in shape, but it also increases immune function, improves sleep quality, and makes your body stronger.
If you do not have any health conditions that prevent you from exercising, find the time to work out, even if it's only a short walk!
No access to a gym? No problem. Learn how to exercise without a gym here.
Final Thoughts
When your body has all the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs, you will feel your best every day. During the cold winter months, it's more important than ever to fuel your body the right way.
Regardless of whether you get these nutrients from your diet or with the help of vitamin supplements, know that you are doing something great for your health.
Finally, discover more of the best vitamin supplements for winter here.
