Thursday, October 22, 2026
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THIS MONTH'S BEST / HEALTH

The Wellness Edit:
What's Worth Your Attention This Month

From everyday vitamins and better sleep to fitness essentials, gut health and the latest weight-management conversations, these are the wellness products and stories we're exploring right now. Thoughtful choices for feeling your best, every day.

THE WEEKEND PAGES · OCTOBER 2026
Wellness and yoga

Explore the Wellness Edit

Medical consultation
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Mounjaro: What You Need to Know

The treatment changing the conversation around weight management — and the facts behind the headlines.

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Vitamins and supplements
VITAMINS

Vitamin D: The Everyday Essential

Why this familiar supplement deserves a place in the conversation about everyday wellbeing.

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Restful bedroom
SLEEP & RECOVERY

The Quiet Appeal of a Better Night's Sleep

From evening rituals to pillow sprays, the small comforts worth considering.

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Strength training gym
STRENGTH & FITNESS

Creatine: The Fitness Essential Worth Knowing

Once associated mainly with the gym, creatine is attracting wider attention.

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Fibre-rich foods
GUT HEALTH

A Simple Approach to Better Gut Health

Why fibre deserves more attention and where psyllium husk fits into a balanced routine.

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Drinking water
HYDRATION

Hydration: More Than Just Drinking Water

Electrolytes, exercise and everyday hydration — what matters and what you can probably skip.

Read the full edit
01

The Wellness Stories

Fitness training
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Mounjaro: What You Need to Know

From how the treatment works to who may be eligible, we explore the key facts behind one of the UK's most discussed prescription medicines.

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Fresh nutritious food
VITAMINS

Vitamin D: The Everyday Essential

A straightforward guide to vitamin D, seasonal recommendations and choosing a supplement sensibly.

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Restful sleeping space
SLEEP

The Quiet Appeal of a Better Night's Sleep

Better rest starts with the everyday habits that help your body wind down.

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Strength training
FITNESS

Creatine: The Fitness Essential Worth Knowing

A closer look at creatine, its evidence base and the questions to ask before trying a supplement.

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Healthy vegetables
GUT HEALTH

A Simple Approach to Better Gut Health

Why everyday fibre matters more than complicated wellness routines.

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Swimming pool
HYDRATION

Hydration: More Than Just Drinking Water

When electrolyte products are useful, and when ordinary water is enough.

Read the full edit
01 / 06

The Complete Wellness Editorials

Explore the stories behind this month's wellness edit. Select any article to read the full feature.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Mounjaro: What You Need to Know
Healthcare consultation

Few treatments have attracted as much attention in the UK as Mounjaro. Its rise has changed the public conversation around obesity, weight management and prescription medicines. But behind the headlines is a treatment that requires careful medical assessment, realistic expectations and ongoing support.

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, a prescription medicine administered by injection. It acts on two hormone pathways, GIP and GLP-1, involved in blood-sugar regulation and appetite.

In the UK, tirzepatide has authorised uses for certain adults with type 2 diabetes and for weight management in eligible adults. Eligibility depends on the licensed indication and a clinician's assessment. NHS access may be more restricted than private prescribing and is subject to applicable clinical criteria.

Why is it attracting attention?

Clinical trials have shown substantial average weight loss in some groups using tirzepatide alongside dietary and lifestyle support. Results vary, however, and the medicine is not a quick substitute for comprehensive weight-management care.

Common adverse effects can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation. More serious risks and contraindications also need consideration. People taking other medicines, including certain diabetes treatments, need individual advice.

What should you consider?

A qualified prescriber should review your medical history, eligibility, possible interactions, monitoring needs and the long-term plan. It is important to understand that stopping treatment can be followed by weight regain.

Anyone considering Mounjaro should use a legitimate registered healthcare service rather than buying from unverified social-media sellers.

This feature is general information, not personal medical advice. Mounjaro is prescription-only and must be assessed and prescribed by an appropriate healthcare professional.
Read NHS medicine information
VITAMINS

Vitamin D: The Everyday Essential
Wellness products on a neutral background

Not every worthwhile wellness purchase needs to be complicated. Vitamin D is a good example: a familiar nutrient with a clear role in normal health, especially during the darker months of the British year.

Why vitamin D matters

Vitamin D helps the body regulate calcium and phosphate, supporting healthy bones, teeth and muscles. Our bodies produce vitamin D when skin is exposed to sunlight, but opportunities for sufficient sun exposure can be limited in autumn and winter.

UK government guidance recommends that people consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during autumn and winter. Some people at higher risk of deficiency are advised to consider supplementation throughout the year.

Choosing a supplement

Vitamin D is available as tablets, capsules, sprays and drops. Boots and other UK pharmacies stock a variety of options, including straightforward own-brand products. A more expensive formulation is not automatically more effective.

The important details are the dose, suitability for your circumstances, clear labelling and whether you can take it consistently.

Can you take too much?

Yes. Excessive vitamin D intake can lead to harmful calcium levels. More is not necessarily better, and anyone prescribed a higher dose should follow medical guidance.

The simplest approach is to choose a suitable product, follow the recommended dose and seek advice if you have a condition or take medication that affects vitamin D or calcium metabolism.

Supplements should not replace a varied diet or medical assessment when deficiency is suspected.
Read NHS vitamin D guidance
SLEEP & RECOVERY

The Quiet Appeal of a Better Night's Sleep
Soft bedroom furnishings

Sleep is one of the most appealing areas of the wellness world because the promise is so simple: a calmer evening and a more refreshed morning. Yet better sleep rarely comes from one miracle product.

It is more often the result of small, consistent habits that help create a reliable transition between a busy day and bedtime.

The value of an evening ritual

Keeping roughly consistent sleep and waking times, limiting caffeine later in the day and creating a comfortable bedroom can all support healthier sleep habits.

Dimming lights, putting away work and choosing a relaxing activity can also help signal that the day is coming to an end.

Where does pillow spray fit?

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is one of the better-known products in the bedtime category. Its fragrance is intended to become part of a relaxing evening routine.

Some people enjoy the sensory association of a familiar scent with bedtime. However, a pillow spray should be regarded as an optional comfort rather than a clinically established treatment for insomnia.

What matters more than the product?

A cool, dark and quiet sleeping environment, regular timing and sufficient opportunity for sleep are more important foundations. Persistent insomnia may benefit from assessment and evidence-based treatment, including cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia.

The best sleep routine is one you can repeat without turning bedtime into another demanding task.

If sleep problems persist or affect daily life, seek advice from a healthcare professional.
Explore NHS sleep advice
STRENGTH & FITNESS

Creatine: The Fitness Essential Worth Knowing
Fitness equipment

Creatine has long been familiar to strength athletes, but it is increasingly discussed beyond bodybuilding circles. That wider interest reflects a substantial body of research into its role in high-intensity exercise.

What is creatine?

Creatine is a substance produced naturally by the body and obtained from foods including meat and fish. It helps replenish energy used during short bursts of demanding physical activity.

Creatine monohydrate is the most widely studied supplemental form. Products such as Optimum Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate provide a straightforward way to consume it.

What does the evidence suggest?

Research supports creatine's ability to improve performance in repeated bouts of high-intensity exercise, particularly when combined with appropriate training. It may help people make greater gains in strength and lean mass over time.

The effect is not the same as an instant energy boost, and creatine does not replace consistent exercise, sufficient food or recovery.

What should buyers know?

Creatine monohydrate is generally the standard against which other formulations are compared. Higher-priced blends do not necessarily offer an advantage.

Some people experience digestive discomfort, particularly with larger doses, and body weight may increase partly because of water retained in muscle.

People with kidney disease or other relevant medical conditions should seek professional advice before supplementing.

Supplements are optional. Training, nutrition and recovery remain the foundations of fitness progress.
Explore Optimum Nutrition
GUT HEALTH

A Simple Approach to Better Gut Health
Fresh produce and natural ingredients

Gut health has become one of wellness's most popular topics, bringing with it an enormous selection of powders, drinks and supplements. But one of the most useful places to begin is much less glamorous: dietary fibre.

Why fibre matters

Fibre supports normal bowel function and is an important part of a balanced diet. Different fibres have different properties, and a varied selection of plant foods helps provide a useful mixture.

The UK recommendation for most adults is approximately 30 grams of dietary fibre each day. Many people consume less than this amount.

Where psyllium husk fits in

Psyllium is a soluble fibre derived from the husks of Plantago ovata seeds. It absorbs water and forms a gel-like substance.

Products such as KIKI Health Organic Psyllium Husk can be used to supplement dietary fibre intake. Psyllium may help with certain types of constipation and has evidence for some effects on cholesterol levels.

How should it be used?

Psyllium must be taken with sufficient fluid and according to the product instructions. It should not be swallowed dry. Introducing additional fibre gradually can help reduce bloating and discomfort.

Fibre supplements may also affect the absorption of certain medicines, so timing and suitability matter.

Before buying another wellness product, consider whether you could increase fibre through oats, beans, lentils, vegetables, fruit and wholegrain foods.

Seek medical advice for persistent bowel symptoms, difficulty swallowing or unexplained changes in bowel habits.
Read NHS fibre guidance
HYDRATION

Hydration: More Than Just Drinking Water
Wellness and everyday health

Hydration is essential to everyday wellbeing, yet the market for electrolyte tablets and performance drinks can make something simple seem surprisingly complicated.

For most people going about a normal day, regular fluids and a balanced diet are sufficient. But there are circumstances in which replacing electrolytes becomes more relevant.

What are electrolytes?

Electrolytes are minerals, including sodium and potassium, involved in fluid balance, nerve signalling and muscle function.

They are naturally present in food and drink, and the body carefully regulates their levels.

When might a product help?

During prolonged exercise, particularly in hot conditions or when sweating heavily, drinks containing electrolytes may help replace some losses.

HIGH5 ZERO tablets are an example of a product designed to add electrolytes and flavour to water. Their usefulness depends on the activity, conditions and individual needs.

Do you need them every day?

Not necessarily. Electrolyte products are not a requirement for ordinary hydration, and using them routinely without a clear need may offer little additional benefit.

If you are active, consider the duration and intensity of exercise, temperature, sweat losses and what you have eaten and drunk.

Medical dehydration, especially from vomiting or diarrhoea, may require an oral rehydration solution rather than a sports electrolyte tablet.

People with kidney disease, heart conditions or prescribed fluid or sodium restrictions should seek individual advice before using electrolyte supplements.
Read NHS hydration advice
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