How to boost your body’s defence system and avoid winter flu
NEARLY half of us worry about catching the flu, according to LloydsPharmacy.
That’s not surprising, as one in ten of us WILL get it this winter. Today, I look at products to boost the body’s defence system and our Beauty Editor tests scalp treatments.
HEALTH: with Jane Atkinson
SUPPLEMENTS – I love Berocca. A trusted fizzy vitamin that works wonders for all things, including hangovers.
Now there is Berocca Immuno, which contains ten immunity-supporting vitamins and minerals, including the addition of vitamins D and E, copper, iron and selenium.
Tastes great, just like the original. £13 for 30 tablets, .
VACCINES – Flu spreads easily among children and can be harder on them than Covid. Plus they go on to spread it to adults!
A new campaign with AstraZeneca has been launched to try to get more children having their annual nasal spray vaccination.
It features digital posters that spray water on unsuspecting passers-by as the girl on it sneezes. Find out how to get your child vaccinated at .
SYRUP – Manuka Doctor’s manuka & buckwheat honey syrup contains vitamins B12 and C to help your immune system function normally and B7 biotin to help support delicate mucous membranes.
It’s a great product for immunity as it contains propolis – a compound produced by bees thought to fight infection. It soothed my sore throat.
It is supposed to taste of lemon and ginger but I didn’t like it – very medicinal. Pricey, too. £25 for 200ml, .
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BEAUTY: with Tara Ledden
BUDGET: Boots Ingredients exfoliating scalp serum with salicylic acid, £4.50 for 50ml, .
While I don’t suffer with dandruff, my roots get greasy quickly, so I was hoping the exfoliating salicylic acid would have the same clarifying effect on my scalp as my go-to SA face serum does on my skin.
And it does, breaking down excess oil and leaving my hair super-clean and volumised.
The instructions say use it twice a week but I found it too drying so I use it once a fortnight for a deep-clean feeling.
MID: Pacifica Scalp Love rosemary mint serum, £14 for 58ml, .
I love the pipette dispenser, which makes it easier to disperse the product around your scalp without drenching your hair.
It also means you can apply it just to itchy areas rather than the whole scalp if you want to make the product last longer.
The formula is gentle enough to leave on overnight, thanks to the soothing aloe vera, so you don’t need to devote an extra ten minutes to your wash routine. Despite the oil texture, it washes out with no residue, leaving a soft, healthy scalp.
LUXURY: Fable & Mane Sahascalp Amla soothing serum, £29 for 55ml, cultbeauty.co.uk.
As well as excess oil, the product build-up on my scalp can sometimes make it feel itchy, especially in warm weather or, when I wear a hat and scarf, but this soothed the itch from first use.
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It smells great and sinks in quickly, so it doesn’t leave any residue on my pillow or make my roots look oily.
Plus, it’s colour safe, so if you dye your hair like me, you don’t need to worry about any knock-on effects.