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Boots Chief Pharmacist shares his tips for staying well this winter

22 December 2021
Feature Healthcare

From vitamin D to face masks and hand sanitiser, Boots has you covered this festive season with a selection of products to support your immunity and help you stay feeling well, so we can enjoy a healthy, happy and safe Christmas this year.

Boots Chief Pharmacist Marc Donovan has shared his top tips to help ensure we stay healthy this festive season.

"During the winter months, my first tip is to stay topped up on vitamin D. This vitamin plays lots of important roles within the body and is essential for controlling the amount of calcium and phosphate in our bodies, keeping our bones, teeth and muscles healthy as well as supporting the normal function of the immune system. The government recommends that as a minimum, we all consider taking a daily 10mcg vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter.

"Tip number two is to keep a bottle of hand sanitiser in your bag and continue to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly throughout the day to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue if you cough or sneeze and place it in the bin, to avoid spreading droplets through the air.

"Which leads nicely into tip three. Face coverings are now compulsory in most public indoor venues, such as shops, cinemas and theatres. You should also wear one in busy public settings or when in a crowd, particularly where there is minimal air ventilation. Avoid touching the front of the face covering while wearing it and change it if it becomes damp or if you’ve touched it. It is a good idea to pack a few if you are going to visit family for the holidays!

"If you do become ill this winter, the severity or duration of cold and flu-like symptoms can be reduced by using a nasal spray at the first sign of symptoms, such as Boots Dual Defence. Containing clinically proven Carragelose, the ingredient works by forming a gel to trap cold and flu virus particles to provide a barrier. The easy-to-use, pocket-sized spray should be used three times a day, is suitable for children and can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding."

Customers can shop 3 for 2 this Christmas on selected vitamins in store or on Boots.com.

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Boots is the UK’s leading health and beauty retailer with over 52,000 team members and 2,100 stores, ranging from local community pharmacies to large destination health and beauty stores.*

Boots serves its customers and patients for life as the leading provider of healthcare on the high street and the UK’s number one beauty destination. It offers an unrivalled depth and breadth of products, which incorporates its extensive own brand range and innovative portfolio of brands, including No7, the UK’s No1 skincare brand, Soap & Glory, Liz Earle Beauty and Sleek MakeUP.

2024 marks Boots’ 175th anniversary year. Founder John Boot opened a herbalist store in Nottingham in 1849 to offer an affordable alternative to traditional medicines. His son Jesse expanded the business to become a modern retailer and the biggest chemist in Britain. Throughout its history, Boots has listened, learned and innovated, and it continues to challenge itself to improve its products and services every day.

Boots is part of Walgreens Boots Alliance, which is a global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail.  More company information is available on boots-uk.com.

*Figures accurate as of 30 November 2023