Wellness Ideas – January is the month when we try to put ourselves back on the proverbial ‘straight and narrow’ healthwise. But sometimes we need that extra health boost. There has been much talk of late regarding the power of functional mushrooms. Even mainstream supermarkets are now supplying their own label, as well as branded, products with the added bonus of mushrooms. Here are some healthy suggestions to help us start the year on the right track…
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, Mush’s founder, nutritionist Bethany, discovered functional mushrooms during her chemotherapy. Despite the intensity of treatment, she experienced improved energy, resilience and recovery. This sparked the idea for Mush, a range of organic, dual-extracted, alcohol-free liquid mushroom supplements designed to support everyday wellbeing. The liquid formula comes with a convenient dropper, making it easy to add to your daily wellness routine. Just 2ml in your favourite drink is all it takes to start feeling the benefits. There are a number of excellent products in the Mush range, supplied in easy to use bottles, with a dropper to ensure correct dosage. They can be added so easily to your coffee, smoothie or any daily drink. £35 for a month’s supply and there is a great deal of information on the science and the range of products at www.lovemush.com
Love Mushrooms, an award-winning UK supplement brand, has launched Empower Decaf Coffee Boost – a premium, menopause-friendly instant coffee with m-tick approval. Infused with functional mushrooms, plant extracts and key nutrients, it’s specially designed to support women through menopause, offering a calmer, caffeine-free way to start the day with clarity and confidence. The new coffee joins Love Mushrooms’ Empower Menopause and Empower Perimenopause capsules, forming a complete range of natural, science-led products tailored to every stage of hormonal change. All Empower products are vegan, non-GMO, made in the UK, and carry the M-Tick – the world’s first menopause-friendly symbol. From £24.90 a pack, there’s more info on this and all the other products (that include a range of capsules, drops drinks and even skincare) at lovemushrooms.co.uk as well as Amazon and Holland & Barrett online.
A fresh and exciting take on wellness has recently arrived in the UK: Evera Nutrition. A pioneering wellness innovation, Evera Nutrition brings together a deep understanding of science and nature to help target the seven key pillars of wellness that most of the UK are struggling to tackle, including: Joint health; Gut health; Sleep; Mood & Stress regulation; Weight management; Skin health and Energy & Mental focus. Evera Nutrition’s clever formulations are built around science synergies. They blend dietetic, botanical and herbal ingredients and these work in harmony with your body, enhancing each other’s bioavailability and helping to improve overall wellness. There’s a range for almost every stage in life including cognitive fitness, joint health, weight and sleep management and they are all developed and manufactured in the UK. Further information on the ranges and to buy at www.everanutrition.co.uk
Phizz has launched a new Daily Immune+ product, to help your immune system fight infection and keep you healthy and resilient. Set to be your new proactive daily essential, Phizz Daily Immune+ leads with hydration-focused immune support. In fact, the science-backed formula delivers the optimal sodium-glucose ratio, so it speeds water into your system and helps it stay there. With 7 key electrolytes, this advanced hydration formula keeps your body in balance, so your immune system can work at its best. Hydrating you three times faster than water alone, and supporting your immune defences with vitamins C and D, B6, A and E, iron, zinc and selenium, it helps keep your body balanced, energised, and resilient – whatever life throws at you. These effervescent tablets are around £5.50 for a pack of 20 from Ocado, Boots, Holland & Barrett and Amazon.
The Benefit Juice range has been designed to support women’s general health and wellbeing, as well as supporting important life stages such as menstruation, menopause and pregnancy. Created in collaboration with nutritionist Jo Meadows, the juices are made with 100% fruit and vegetables, contain no added sugar and are vegan-friendly. If you normally start the day with a glass of juice and a dose of multivitamins, you can combine them to make life a little easier. They provide the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals your body needs, and contribute to general wellness. Available in three varieties: Pregnancy; Wellness and Menosupport. Benefit Juice’s Women’s Health range is available nationwide. The 750ml chilled juice is available in Tesco (RRP £4.00) and the 900ml ambient carton is available in Waitrose, (RRP £4.50) and Holland & Barrett (RRP £4.99). More info at www.thebenefitbrand.com
And finally, M&S Food, has just published its top five health and wellness trends, and also launched the M&S Food Health Trends Report 2026, to help us make healthier choices. With Eat Well, its health seal of approval, recently turning 21, the company puts customers’ health and needs at the forefront. One of these is Fibremaxxing, adding more intrinsic fibres present in wholefoods, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, pulses and grains to our diets. While we don’t want to overload our systems, it helps to get as close to the recommended 30g of fibre a day as possible. M&S’s new Nutrient Dense range is a range of nutrient-rich meals, snacks and drinks containing high amounts of nutrients per calorie. The criteria is developed by M&S in house chefs and nutritionists in consultation with the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) and Eat Well, the range is made with whole food, fresh and store cupboard ingredients that are packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals to help us reach daily targets. I particularly like the Nutrient Dense Super Seeded Oaty Bread (13g of fibre in two slices) at £1.80 for a 300g pack. Also available from Ocado. One slice of this, spread with a sugar free peanut butter, is a particularly easy, sustaining and tasty breakfast or snack. The other health trends, if you were wondering, are: Biohacking; High Protein; Gut Health and Minimal Ingredients.
The Seasoned Gastronome