The Common Cold & Upper Respiratory Flu
How Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements May Help
 

Common Symptoms
 

We all know these symptoms – runny or stuffy nose, scratchy throat, coughing, sneezing, tired.  Also with the flu you may have a fever and aching muscles and be even more tired!
 

Common Causes
 

Viruses cause colds and most upper respiratory flu.   A lowered immune system caused by poor diet is often the reason why your body is unable to fight off the viruses.
 

Vitamins, Minerals and Nutritional Supplements
 

There is much controversy about whether or not vitamin C can actually help you fight off a cold or the flu, however, it does appear to reduce the severity and duration of these illnesses*.  Sucking on zinc lonzenges also seems to reduce the severity and duration* – in one study on colds, those who took the zinc were sick for an average of 4.3 days instead of 9.2 days.  Their coughs and nasal drainage was also much improved compared to those who got the placebo*.   Vitamin A, olive leaf extract and green tea are also known to boost immunity*.  In addition, allicidin, the active ingredient in garlic and probiotics also can help your immune system to function better to fight off a cold or virus or to prevent them in the first place.*

In our opinion, the real key is prevention.  A diet rich in immune boosting vitamins and minerals, such as natural vitamin C complex as found in Camu Camu and Goji berries, along with some key nutritional  supplements can end up boosting your immunity so you no longer get a cold or the flu*!

The various “Super Juices” like Goji, Mangosteen, Acai and Noni seem to be good for boosting immunity if taken on a regular basis*.  Just make sure and get a brand like Genesis Today that is 100% pure juice with no toxic preservatives or diluting water or other fruit juices.

Note:  If you use zinc lozenges, zinc gluconate lozenges with glycine should be used.  If they add citrate, tartrate, orotate, mannitol, or sorbitol instead, according Dr. Godfrey at Dartmouth College, it will inactivate the zinc and not work.  You can also sip on liquid zinc from Quantum, mixed with water.

Recommended Vitamin and Nutritional Supplements*

• Natural Vitamin C
• Goji 100 Juice
• Mangosteen 100 Juice
• Acai 100 Juice
• Noni 100 Juice
• Zinc
• Greens Mix
• Chlorella
• Cod Liver Oil (for vitamin A)
• Olive leaf extract (Quantum Infectostat)
• Green tea
• Allicin (the active ingredient in garlic, found in Quantum Allicidin))
• Probiotics

Food Choices
 

Staying away from refined sugar on a regular basis and eating lots of nutrient rich foods, especially those with vitamin C, can really give your immune system a boost and help keep you from getting colds and the flu*.  Studies have shown that for up to 5 hours after ingesting refined sugar your immune system is depressed.  So if you eat sugar with each meal, your immune system will be depressed all day long!  Even if you take vitamin supplements, it is probably not going to be enough to overcome that.  If you are having a hard time cutting sugar out of your diet, you are probably not eating enough fat and/or protein.

If you are already sick, lots of fluids, homemade chicken broth, garlic and hot spicy things can help get the mucous out and strengthen your immune system to fight it off faster.  Although they are more expensive than the common button mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms can also boost your immune system.  Raw honey like the Really Raw Honey and raw apple cider vinegar can also help increase your immunity.

Other Ideas
 

Besides the vitamin C and chicken soup, another trick we first heard about on the Dr. Mercola website is to put a couple drops of hydrogen peroxide in your ears at the first sign of a cold or upper respiratory flu.  The idea is that lots of the germs actually come in through your ears and if you can get rid of them before they multiply too much, your body won't have to use its own resources as much.  It is important that you do one ear at a time, and leave it in until the fizzing stops (this means there are no more germs to kill) – then do the other side.  If you don't let it fizz all the way, you might just kill the weaker germs.  You can repeat this every couple hours until there is no more fizzing in either ear (sometimes you will only have germs in one of your ears).

Believe it or not, we do not recommend common cold remedies, as they tend to block the body's own cleansing processes and make a cold last longer.*  In addition, keeping the stress levels down and getting exercise can help your immune system to function better and prevent colds and the flu*.  Last, but not least, in addition to vitamin rich foods and nutritional supplements, be sure to get plenty of rest*.

* This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Healthy Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements