17Apr/117
Does vitamin C intake really help to reduce the likelihood of getting the flu or a cold?
Either taking vitamin C from natural sources such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits or from pills, does it really help prevent a cold or flu?
Or in case you get sick, does it help you lessen the syptoms intensity?
I'm talking about TAKING IT BEFORE GETTING SICK, whether that helps your body to be better prepared or not
April 17th, 2011 - 18:19
Humans and guinea pigs are the only species who don’t manufacture their own vitamin C. You are far less likely to get sick if you’re taking the optimal amount per day for YOU. This means experimenting a bit by going to bowel tolerance (too much and you get diarrhea).
No one can possibly get enough vitamin C from fruit alone — unless you want to down 16 oranges, etc.
Adequate vitamin C intake prevents cardiovascular disease which is really an advanced form of scurvy. Why are humans the only species that experiences heart attacks?
Vitamin D3 has been proven to prevent cold and flu when taken in the 5,000iu range daily by anyone living north of Atlanta in the winter time (your body manufactures none at this time even if you were to run around naked outdoors for hours).
April 17th, 2011 - 18:19
Not really, no. It’s just an essential vitamin we need for a LOT of functions, and if it’s absent, you can get many different maladies (not just colds or flu).
April 17th, 2011 - 18:19
Yes, if only you are deficient in vitamin C from natural sources to begin with.
Otherwise no, as too much fruits etc will cause your system to be overloaded with sugar which can create serious imbalance in your body and compromise your immune system.
April 17th, 2011 - 18:19
Essential nutrients for the immune system – vitamin A, B6, B9(folate), B12, C, D, E and minerals selenium, copper, iron and zinc.
If you want to prevent cold and flu – then the vitamin of choice is D.
Vitamin D is low in winter and is the worlds most common deficiency affecting at least a billion people. Many clinical trials have shown low vitamin D levels is highly linked to cold and flu, not to mention other diseases such as heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis to name a few.
Optimal vitamin D levels – 80ng/ml or 200nmol/l. At least 2000IU with some stating up to 10 000IU daily. Note: magnesium is essential for optimal vitamin D absorption.
The easiest way to prevent cold and flu – vitamin D >>>
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-gottlieb/the-easiest-way-to-preven_b_651576.html
Prevent cold and flu with vitamin D >>>
http://www.doctorsnatural.com/Prevent-colds-and-flu-with-vitamin-D-n43.php
April 17th, 2011 - 18:19
I know it helps, more if you take it with zinc
April 17th, 2011 - 18:19
Nope.
Whacking great big doses of vitamin C (even the chewable or soluble kind), oranges and lemons and the bells of st clements, don’t do a damn thing to prevent or treat these viral infections.
Note that some people, like RedAngel, cite sources full of BS.
Edit: Bad move, Nosey. You just ventured into my field,- cardiology.
"Adequate vitamin C intake prevents cardiovascular disease which is really an advanced form of scurvy.
and
"Why are humans the only species that experiences heart attacks?"
We’re not. You’ve been reading Matthias Rath’s work. He’s a complete quack.
April 17th, 2011 - 18:19
Yes there is evidence that vitamin C can help if taken before one gets sick.
"The results of a trial conducted in Japan have just been published. It is a double blind, 5-yr randomized controlled trial involving 439 participants. The supplemented groups received either 50 or 500 mg/day of vitamin C. The study indicates that vitamin C supplementation does indeed reduce the frequency of colds. The probability of suffering from 3 colds over the course of the study period was reduced by 66% in the group supplementing at 500 mg/day. " [1]