Do you need supplements over winter?

Sports endocrinologist Dr Nicky Keay (health4performance.co.uk) makes the case for vitamin D

Over winter — and during the Christmas holidays in particular — keeping nutrition on track isn’t easy, so get the basics right: combine all the main food groups, protein, carbs, fats and fresh fruit and veg, and keep well hydrated. Provided you have these basics sorted, you shouldn’t need supplements — with one exception: vitamin D. While sunlight is in short supply, we can’t produce enough — even if you walked around naked outside all winter, it wouldn’t suffice! Vital for bone health and muscle and immune function, vitamin D is present in fatty fish and some dairy products, but not in large enough quantities. Hence, I recommend taking a Sports Informed (batch tested) vitamin D supplement over the winter. In a study earlier this year, dancers who’d taken vitamin D over the winter were able to jump higher and sustained fewer injuries. Other studies have shown that athletes with good levels of vitamin D over the winter contract fewer illnesses. There really are solid reasons to put “quality vitamin D supplement” on your Christmas list!