My family always supplemented. My mum found what she considered to be the best probiotic in Australia and would give us all one every day. We did not only take probiotics though. My mum also had her favourite multivitamins that she dished out to us, she used to take calcium for her bone strength, and she always kept Zinc and Vitamin C in the cupboard in case any of us got ill. My brothers both played a lot of sport and she used to give them magnesium powder to ensure they never got muscle cramps. And while many families probably thought my family was a bit over the top, I have to say that I now do exactly what my mother did for my family. We supplement and we are all much healthier for it.

Why probiotics?

People think that probiotics are only to be taken with antibiotics but probiotics for health are a no-brainer. Probiotics work on the gut, on bringing balance to the gut and filling the gut with good micro-organisms. There is a direct link between having a healthy gut and a healthy body. My mum was ahead of her game; she knew this.

There is an almost linear line leading from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve and then from the brain to the organs. The gut is the common denominator. The more your gut is balanced, the more your entire body is balanced.

Probiotics ensure a balanced gut and so probiotics for general health and for the immune system are a definite must.

Why multivitamins?

No matter how healthy your diet is, sadly it is never going to be enough. You can eat all the fruit and veggies in the world, get enough protein and dairy in your daily diet, but still you will be lacking in certain vitamins and nutrients. It is the way that our food is grown or prepared and it is the way our bodies take these things in. Supplements are the way to go, and oddly it is often the people with the best diets who know this and who take supplements. I feed my family the healthiest of foods but I, like my mum, make sure they take a multivitamin every day. And honestly, our immune systems are all strong.

Why magnesium?

Magnesium is a wonder supplement. Magnesium is one of these essential salts and while eating a banana can help in the actual moment, magnesium supplements prevent the cramps in the first place. And for me, I found magnesium brilliant for my insomnia and my menopausal mood swings. Magnesium is, like these other supplements, natural and really inexpensive. Would I choose between taking magnesium or taking the best probiotic Australia? I would not choose. I would take both.