The IAA One Minute Blog

It’s cold season and you hope the glass of orange juice you have every morning will prevent you from catching the office cold. Are Mom’s pearls of wisdom actually true, can a daily dose of vitamin C help?

Vitamin C and the Common Cold

Vitamin C is a nutrient your body uses to keep you strong and healthy. It helps maintain your bones, muscles and blood vessels. Vitamin C also helps you absorb iron.

Overall, experts find little to no benefit if you use vitamin C to prevent or treat a cold. In 2010, researchers looked at all studies and found that taking vitamin C every day did not prevent the number of colds that a person got.  When taken daily, vitamin C very slightly shortened cold duration. 

Other Cold Fighting Products

Some people try other natural products such as herbs or vitamins and minerals to prevent or treat colds. But do they really work?

• Echinacea: This product has not been proven to help prevent or treat colds.
• Probiotics: Although a 2015 analysis of research indicated that probiotics might help prevent upper respiratory tract infections, the evidence is weak and the results have limitations, according to the National Institutes of Health.  
• Zinc: A 2015 analysis of clinical trials found that oral zinc helps to reduce the length of colds when taken within 24 hours after symptoms start.

Depending on the vitamin or supplement taken, your cold may have a shorter duration.

Cold Prevention

So what can you do to prevent a cold?

• A hot and cold shower: Temperature fluctuations jump-start your immune system.
• Exercise: Research shows that moderate exercise, 30 to 90 minutes most days of the week, increases immune function and reduces your chances of catching a cold.
• Oysters: These mollusks contain more of the mineral zinc than any other food, and zinc has been proven to support and enhance the immune system. Eating just a single oyster will give you a whopping 13 milligrams of zinc.
• Sleep: Sleep regulates the release of the hormone cortisol, which stimulates cells that boost the immune system. Getting at least seven hours of sleep is the easiest way to steer clear of the common cold.

No one wants to catch the communal cold, so take steps to prevent this from happening!

What IAA has to Say

Colds are not fun and can spread easily. Insurance Administrator of America hopes you find a cold fighting method that works for you. Remember, with IAA one call does it all.

Interested in reading more on this topic? Click here!