Health experts recommend getting enough vitamins and minerals to keep the immune system strong and fight off illnesses
Lidl shoppers can now buy a healthy drink full of vitamins for less than £1. The recently released shot-sized bottles may help prevent you from getting sick as they contain immune system-boosting vitamins that help fight off illnesses.
The 99p bottles are available in different flavours and versions, each with its own range of health benefits. Although small enough to knock back in one or two gulps, the 99p shots include plenty of ingredients that promise to enhance your health in several areas.
The ginger and apple shot is good for immunity. Ginger has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, while apples are a good source of vitamin C, which is crucial for white blood cell production and fighting infections.
There is also a vitamin C option, which contains a fruit called acerola (similar to cherry), beetroot, and guarana. Acerola is often used to treat and prevent scurvy – a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. Beetroot has anti-inflammatory properties that can help regulate immune responses, and guarana contains antioxidants that help your body fight infections, colds, and the flu.
Meanwhile, the vitamin D shot blends orange, ginger, and turmeric. Oranges are high in vitamin C, which plays a role in the development and function of white blood cells – these are the body’s primary defence against foreign invaders. Curcumin, the yellow pigment in turmeric, is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities.
The final flavour option, Lidl’s 99p ‘gut health’ shot, is made with melon, carrot and ginger. Melons are high in water, which helps your body flush out toxins and makes it easier for immune-boosting nutrients to reach your cells. Carrots contain nutrients that help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.
Many Brits would benefit from the vitamin D shot in particular, as we see off the gloomy winter months. According to the NHS, people need to get enough vitamin D to ensure bones, teeth, and muscles stay healthy. The most common source of this comes from sunshine, but that’s limited in the UK, especially in autumn and winter.
The health service claims that Brits will not start to soak up enough vitamin D naturally until “late March or early April”. Until then, it’s usually advised that people top up their levels of this “essential” vitamin with supplements.
Ginger shots can have many health benefits, including reducing inflammation, boosting the immune system, and aiding digestion. Supplements come in several forms – such as pills, powders and gummies. However, many people opt for natural alternatives and diets that are enhanced with good sources of these vitamins.
All of these ingredients of Lidl’s 99p health shots mentioned above are excellent sources of the vitamins that experts claim many people in the UK are deficient in. The NHS suggests that adults aged 19 to 64 need 40mg of vitamin C daily, and children over one-year-old should get around 10mg a day.
But, people have been warned that overdoing it with supplements like this may lead to some side effects. Taking large amounts (more than 1,000mg per day) of vitamin C can cause stomach pain, diarrhoea and flatulence. These should disappear after stopping the supplement.
Taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body (hypercalcaemia). This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart.
If you are ever in doubt about what a safe amount of supplement is for you, speak to your doctor. They can help tailor the advice to your specific situation, which varies depending on your age, medical history, and lifestyle.