Vitamin C prevents colds

Supplementing with vitamin C over time reduces the frequency of developing common colds, according to a recent study reported in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The vitamin, which is necessary for immune function, aids in wound healing and acts as an antioxidant, is abundant in broccoli, red peppers, strawberries and citrus fruits. The common cold is an upper respiratory tract infection caused by any number of viruses. It symptoms—coughing, runny nose, body aches, sore throat and sometimes fever—pass in about a week.

Previous studies have failed to prove that vitamin C supplementation can reduce the duration and severity of a common cold. But in a five-year study scientists found that supplementing with at least 500 milligrams of the vitamin each day reduced the frequency of catching colds, by as much as 70 percent. Other studies have shown that higher doses of vitamin C, such as 1,500 milligrams per day, are most effective for preventing colds.

—Source: Healthnotes Newswire