Are vitamins really effective in preventing colds?

The arrival of the cold has made many of us more susceptible to catching a cold, so we’re always looking for different ways to avoid it as much as possible. For that reason, Some of us decided to take some vitamin supplements every morning.

One of the most popular is the aisle Vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, propolis, Among other things. On many packages of these products we can find phrases such as “promotes the body’s natural defenses,” “promotes the immune system to function correctly throughout the day,” “helps the immune system and defense barrier.” Are they really real?

It is worth mentioning that if you are a healthy person and do not have any nutritional deficiencies, There is absolutely no need for you to take any supplements.as it won’t help you avoid colds or other problems.

this consumer and user organizations Show advertising constantly tells us to strengthen our defenses. However, healthy people, with no nutritional deficiencies, who live a healthy life and eat a healthy diet, do not need to take these supplements as their claims are purely marketing.

When do you need to take them?

If you are a nutrient-deficient person with a deficient diet, it is important to take these supplements to make up for those nutrients.Doctors can make recommendations if we are unsure blood test to determine it.

If you have these deficiencies, for most people Improving your diet is enough. In any case, in some cases it may be necessary to consume these products: vitamin B9 (folic acid) for future mothers, iron for women with anemia due to menorrhagia, or vitamin B12 for people on a vegan diet and diet. They should replace foods of animal origin.

Do supplements help regulate disease duration?

If the flu or common cold typically lasts about a week, OCU tells us how many days research shows it can be shortened by taking nutritional supplements like these:

Zinc: 1 to 3 days

  • Taking this mineral may reduce the duration of symptoms by 1 or 3 days, but will not reduce the severity of symptoms.
  • Foods containing zinc are mainly foods of animal origin (meat, seafood, eggs and cheese), legumes and nuts.

Vitamin D: 0.5 days

  • In the studies conducted, the risk reduction for catching the flu or cold was small, averaging 8%, and varied widely based on dose, frequency, patient age and study duration.
  • The duration of symptoms was shortened by only 6%, or about half a day.
  • In food, it is found in cod liver, oily fish, and eggs. But the main source is sun exposure: for arms, necklines and legs, about 30 minutes in winter and 15 minutes in summer are enough.

Vitamin C: 0.5 days

  • Studies show that vitamin C supplementation can reduce the risk of getting the flu or cold, but the reduction is a paltry 4%.
  • The duration of symptoms has been shortened to 9% of the usual time, which is half a day
  • In Food: Found in citrus fruits, strawberries, peppers, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables. Daily dietary needs including fruits and vegetables are met. There is no need to take these supplements except in special circumstances.

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