What supp? Level up this winter

January left you running on empty? From boosting your brain power to getting your glow back, Joanna Taylor presents her pick of the supercharged supplements to add to basket

NEED a bit of an MOT? The supplement market, now estimated to be worth £494 million in the UK, is booming and there are a plethora of pills asking to be popped, promising everything from better brain function to luscious hair. Competition in the market is fierce, so to save you the time and energy researching or splashing out on 15 different varieties, here are some of the latest, greatest and safest supplements to have on your radar.

Be happy

If lockdown has got you feeling glum The Nue Co Mood, £30 (9, thenueco.com), might be the supplement for you. A concoction of phosphorus-aiding B vitamins, fatigue-fighting vitamin D and adaptogen ashwagandha root, this aims to regulate the metabolism of serotonin, melatonin and dopamine as well as assisting with cortisol management — the key hormone propagated by stress.

Boost brain health

Formulated by a stellar team of specialist doctors and neuroscientists, the Heights Smart Supplement, from £30 (4, yourheights.com), was created with one vision in mind: to improve cognitive function. A mix of 20 essential nutrients including omega 3 DHA, blueberry extract and vitamin D3, six months on these can help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, heart disease and LDL cholesterol.

Get the glow

Many collagen supplements can be hit and miss, but the Ingenious Beauty Ultimate Collagen formula, £54.99 (1, feelingenious.com), isn’t one of them. Backed by the professor of pharmaceutical innovation at King’s College and trials where 98 per cent of women reported a significant improvement in skin quality, these capsules replenish the body’s natural reserves of hyaluronic acid and collagen as well as using astaxanthin — 6,000 times more potent in antioxidants than vitamin C — to repair muscles and prevent sun damage.

For increased immunity

You have to chew this one, but it’s worth the effort. Leapfrog Immune, £34.99 (6, leapfrogremedies.com), is packed with zinc, vitamin C and 250g of lactoferrin, a protein that is produced by our bodies to protect us against bacteria and viruses. Ageing, stress and fatigue can cause a depletion of our lactoferrin reserves, making us more susceptible to colds. Pop one at the earliest sign of a sniffle and watch it sashay away.

The trusty all-rounder

If you’ve not got a specific concern and fancy something techy, opt for a bespoke 3D-printed supplement by Nourished, £39.99 (5 & 7, getnourished.com), a brand which will assess your lifestyle and goals to create the optimum dosage for you. Made up of a freshly printed vegan gel, trials have shown these formulas to have 99 per cent higher efficacy and 70 per cent higher absorption rate than some other supplements.

Liven up your libido

Designed to decrease anxiety and help one get in the mood, the Anatome Women’s Libido and Stress Support Supplement, £32 (2, anatome.co), will have you feeling feisty in no time. Fortified with cortisol-regulating ashwagandha, as well as rhodiola, astralagus, suma root and liquorice extracts to fine tune the adrenal glands, this can balance sexual hormones and quash anxiety. Daye ProViotics, £22 (8, yourdaye.com) capsules have been formulated to encourage a healthy vaginal ecosystem.

The hair raiser

To keep locks looking luscious and to slow the age-induced hair loss, invest in a hair supplement. Formulated by hair loss specialists at The Belgravia Centre (the brains behind the results seen on those regrowth adverts on the Tube), Hair Vitalics supplements, £25 (3, hairvitalics.com), are packed with zinc, selenium and biotin which prevent hair loss, keep the hair follicles lubricated, encourage healthy thyroid function and increase hair elasticity.