Autumn Immune Support: How I Look After My Body as the Weather Turns

Can you feel it? The mornings are dark, there's a proper chill in the air, and the clocks go back this Sunday.

I love this time of year. Big jumpers, soup on the hob, walks along the seafront kicking through the leaves. But the change of season always asks a little more of our bodies. Half term is here, the kids have spent seven weeks bringing every bug home from school, and it feels like everyone I know has a cold right now.

So this is the week I start gently looking after my immune system. Nothing extreme. Just small, consistent rituals, morning and night.

Why the change of season affects our immunity

When the weather turns, a few things happen at once:

• We get less daylight, which affects our energy, mood and sleep
• We spend more time indoors and closer together, so colds pass round faster
• We're tired after the back to school rush
• The clocks changing can throw our body clock out for a week or so

None of this means we have to get poorly. It just means it's a really good time to give our bodies some extra support.

My morning ritual: DAY

Every morning I take two Mama Shrooms DAY capsules with breakfast. In autumn this is the one I really rely on.

Liposomal Vitamin C
Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Exactly what I need when it's still dark at 7am. We use a liposomal form because it's so well absorbed.

Lion's Mane
Our Lion's Mane is 100% fruiting body, dual extracted and standardised to at least 35% beta-glucans. Beta-glucans are the compounds in mushrooms that researchers are most interested in for immune health. Lion's Mane is also lovely for the gut, and so much of our immune system lives there. I wrote more about that in my post on Lion's Mane and the gut brain connection.

Cordyceps
Traditionally used for energy and stamina. When the darker mornings make getting going feel like hard work, this is the one that helps me feel like myself.

If you'd rather not swallow capsules, empty one into your morning coffee. It's my favourite mushroom coffee ritual.

My evening ritual: NIGHT

Sleep is when our bodies repair and recover, and good sleep is one of the best things we can do for our immunity. With the clocks going back this weekend, it's the perfect time to protect it.

Mama Shrooms NIGHT is my wind down every evening.

Chaga
Chaga grows slowly on birch trees through freezing northern winters, which feels so right for this time of year. It's naturally rich in antioxidants, beta-glucans and betulinic acid, and has been used for generations in Siberian and Northern European folk practice to help people through the cold months.

Reishi
Used in China for over 2,000 years, Reishi is my mushroom for calm. It's grounding, steady and helps me let the day go.

Magnesium from seaweed
Magnesium contributes to normal psychological function and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. NIGHT is melatonin free, and it's been voted best sleep functional mushroom brand.

A warming autumn recipe: Golden Reishi Milk

This is what I'm making most evenings at the moment. It takes five minutes on one hob.

Ingredients

• 250ml oat milk (or any milk you like)
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• Half a tsp cinnamon
• A few slices of fresh ginger
• Pinch of black pepper
• 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
• 1 Mama Shrooms NIGHT capsule

Method

Gently warm the milk with the turmeric, cinnamon, ginger and pepper for a few minutes. Take it off the heat, stir in the honey, then open your NIGHT capsule and whisk it in. Pour into your favourite mug and take it to bed with a book.

My other autumn immunity habits

• Eat with the seasons. Squash, leeks, kale, beetroot, garlic, onions and of course mushrooms. Soups and one pot stews are my go to.
• Get outside in the morning. Even ten minutes of daylight helps your body clock adjust when the clocks change.
• Think about vitamin D. The NHS suggests everyone in the UK considers a daily vitamin D supplement through autumn and winter.
• Keep moving gently. A walk, some yoga, whatever you can manage.
• Rest when you need to. If your body is asking you to slow down, listen.
• Early nights. Use the extra hour this weekend for sleep, not scrolling.

Why quality matters

Every Mama Shrooms mushroom is 100% fruiting body, with no mycelium or grain fillers, dual extracted to capture all the active compounds, and third party tested by Eurofins. If you want to know what to look for on the back of the pack, have a read of Functional Mushroom Benefits UK: What Actually Matters.

Day and Night, together

If you want to support yourself round the clock this autumn, the DAY and NIGHT bundle is the easiest way to do it. One for the morning, one for the evening. Simple.

Look after yourselves this week. Wrap up warm, make a big pot of soup, and enjoy that extra hour in bed.

Mush love,
Gem xx

This article is for information only and isn't medical advice. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Please speak to your GP if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition.