Cold Protection

An unfortunate part of life is the harsh reality of cold and flu season! Almost everyone will be afflicted with a cold during the year, likely during the winter months. In fact it seems inevitable that you will get sick, right? Of course there is always that one person that you know that never seems to come down with any illness. What is she doing that you aren’t? It is very likely that your healthy friend is supplementing her healthy diet with vitamins and herbs that can help ward off illness.

There are many natural solutions that have been relied upon for thousands of years to protect from the common cold. If you find that you continually are getting sick, you may want to have the doctor test you for low vitamin and nutrient levels. Vitamin E is one vitamin that helps to alleviate fatigue as well as protecting the lungs from infection and illness. Zinc is also a useful mineral in protecting your cells from infections and for soothing sore throats.

Beta carotene is a water soluble vitamin that is responsible for aiding the function of the immune system. If your body is low in beta carotene your immune system may not be functioning at full capacity. Vitamin C is another water soluble vitamin that is responsible in preventing viral and bacterial infections in the body. The presence of vitamin C also strengthens the immune system. Because vitamin C and beta carotene are both water soluble, they are not stored in the body, so it is important that you take them every day in order to provide yourself with the necessary protection.

Zinc has been found to be fairly useful in reducing the duration of a cold once you contract it. By using zinc daily you may also experience some relief in symptoms. However in order to try and prevent a cold from occurring in the first place you should try to eat foods that are rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene and zinc. If you are not getting enough of these vitamins, supplement during the cold and flu system in order to build up your immune system to ward off any illness.

There are a variety of herbal remedies that are receiving a lot of attention for helping with the common cold as well. A few of the most popular are: Echinacea is a very popular herbal remedy that strengthens the immune system and produces antibodies to fight illness. Goldenseal is good for fighting sinus and lung congestions and it has antibacterial properties as well.