Can any supplement really prevent or get rid of the flu or common cold?

Question

ie) zinc, vitamin c, echinachea

Answer 1

(My GP has been taking 2000mg of Vitamin C daily for 20yrs and claims he has never had he flu since.)
Many others believe supplements aid in many health issues today in comparison to the "caveman the era" where we ate more fruits,vegetation and pure proteins,not needing supplements.The major claim is, supplements help! Yet the rich pharmaceutical companies have no real economic interest in the investment of research and development of Vitamins & Minerals because it doesn't pay enough.Just like the subject of Global warming...oil & car co. are filthy rich now..so what should they care about tomorrow.

Answer 2

Yes, absolutely! I have a history of lung infections, pneumonia, bronchitis etc and have not had so much as a cold for the past two years. The very first sign of a cold is when you must act quickly with zinc and vitamin C. Stay warm, rest and take the zinc or something like Airborne. I have been able to fight off several colds and flu by doing this. The trick is to start treating the minute you begin to feel bad. I also take a product called Juice Plus which has built my immune system up so my body can fight off viruses much easier. Juice Plus comes in capsule or chewable form and you take it every day. It has really helped my overall health, brought my cholesterol down and boost my immune system.

Answer 3

Hi,... this is a good question,.. and in my opinion,.. there is no simple answer to this. Over the years I have read and heard many people make claims about this or that supplement offering protection against getting a cold or flu etc. .... Personally I never found any of that to be the case, but I suspect there are some folks out there who take massive doses of vitamin C every day and they may not be getting regular colds. .. I did know someone years back who did this and swore to me that it worked for her,.. and then not long after that she was pretty sick with the flu.

I have read that vitamin C is worthless after you have already gotten a cold. It may help protect you from getting a cold if you take enough of it every day,.. but once you have a cold, it does absolutely nothing for you. .... When I used to get colds,.. I did in fact find this to be true.

In my opinion,.. the best approach to take is a Holistic one. Do all you can to strengthen and build up your immune system on a daily basis. That means that you should eat a 'power food' diet. That is one that will strengthen your body, rather than weaken it. ... The food you take in to your body every day is crucial towards determining the condition of your immune system. .... and also,.... eating a diet that is rightly tailored to your particular bodies needs is very important.
... You can educate yourself on this if you check out www.mercola.com

There are also a number of supplements available today that have been shown to strengthen the immune system. ... Some of these are; "Grape Seed Extract",..."Olive Leaf Extract",..."Fish Oil",. or "Flax Seed Oil",... "Astragalus",.... etc...

Regular exercise is also important.
....... Personally I have not had a cold or flu or been sick for over ten years now and I live a pretty health promoting lifestyle. ..... The last few times I did get a cold,.. I went to an acupuncturist who gave me some Chinese herbal medicine that literally knocked the cold out over night. That is the truth. ............. Personally if I ever became sick with any sort of systemic illness, I would turn to traditional Oriental medicine way before I would use western medicine. .... Oriental medicine, in the hands of an experienced and skilled practitioner, works extremely well and without any toxic side effects.

Answer 4

Proven PREVENTIVE.

Warning: it takes a man, or at least a manly stomach to do this:
buy a garlic press (small implement which crushes peeled garlic cloves into a paste) and crush half a dozen such cloves into a small tupperware bowl for example, add one tablespoon olive oil, stir till smooth.

Will keep for a couple or three days fridge. Add 1/2 teaspoon to soups, entrees, even toasted bread slices. Hard at first to be sure, but if you can get used to it, and you will in time, no flu or cold will land any troops into you succesfully. Most you'll get is sniffles and that'll be that.

The notion that your breath will offend is myth, just be sure you drink enough water during the day, equal to or greater than 1/2 Gal. and your system will thank you. As well, this water business case stands alone, independent of the cold / flu connection.

Answer 5

Nothing except your own immune system can get rid of the flu or common cold.
If you take vitamin C or echinachea it'll strengthen your immune system giving you a less liekly chance of getting it.

Answer 6

Influenza can be inoculated against. The common cold possibly could be, but as there are a great many strains it is hardly practical.

The best defence against getting a cold is to get it. Once you have had that particular flavour you are then immune and will never get it again.

Children seem to have runny noses all year-round, whilst adults less often. Old people hardly ever get a cold, as they have already in their time had most of them.

The trick obviously is to live until you are 60+ and you will hardly ever catch a cold. I am 50 and I think the last one I caught was 2 years ago!

Answer 7

No. Colds and flu are caused by viruses. Viruses can only be destroyed by interfering with their replication process. There are no supplements out there that work at that level. Supplements can boost immunity that strengthen the body's defenses against viruses, but only antivirals can eliminate a virus.

Answer 8

Honey, you sweat it out. It is going away even as that is achieved. each and all of us needs to remedy cancer, yet curing the problem-loose chilly will be a larger coup. besides, all you are able to do is relieve indicators. many human beings drink warm tea, devour fowl noodle soup, placed warm or chilly packs the position they discomfort, and so on. Me, I in basic terms wimp out and go instantly to the drug save. I want liquid Tylenol chilly/Flu. there's a evening one, which permits you sleep, and a daylight hours one, which permits you stay conscious. They go some distance in route of creating me experience 2/3 human throughout the time of a chilly. notwithstanding you make the most of, good luck!

Answer 9

The company I work for has just released a product called best defense it has 1000 mg of vit c, zinc and echinacea in it. pretty awesome product, I have used it once(not need since) when woke up stuffy and not feeling well. felt great couple hours later. email me and will tell you how to get it

Answer 10

echinachea is the winner! vitamin c will help build your immune system. lots of water helps too!