In fact, the controversy over whether vitamin C can cure colds has persisted since the 1970s.

In fact, the controversy over whether vitamin C can cure colds has persisted since the 1970s. Since then, the debate between the "vitamin C effective group" and the "Vitamin C ineffective group" has intensified, and the two sides have held their own opinions, and have not yet reached a consensus, and it is difficult to convince each other. 

On December 11, 2023, Professor Hemila and colleagues published an evidence-based medicine study in the internationally renowned medical journal BMC Public Health, which included 15 relevant studies with 4437 patients, and the results showed that: An additional supplement of > 1g of vitamin C per day can reduce the missed class (work) rate of common cold patients by 15%, shorten the number of days with severe symptoms in the course of illness by 76%, and reduce the probability of worsening illness by 13%, which has been confirmed for the first time:

Vitamin C can cure colds!

1.What does vitamin C do

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbicacid, was once known as the "universal vitamin." Lack of vitamin C, there may be bleeding gums, decreased resistance, severe scurvy, which is also the origin of its commonly known as "ascorbic acid". Vitamin C is highly soluble in water and has the simplest molecular structure of the 13 vitamins.

Vitamin C can promote immune protein synthesis, increase body resistance, improve the activity of functional enzymes, increase the number of lymphocytes and improve the phagocytic activity of neutral cells, antioxidant, so as to achieve the effect of treating cold.

2 Which foods are rich in vitamin C

It's easy to get vitamin C, which is widely found in fresh fruits and vegetables.

3 What are the misunderstandings of supplementing vitamin C

Vitamin C is easy to get, but just as easy to lose, how can it be effectively absorbed and used by the body?

These mistakes should be avoided:

The recommended daily intake of vitamin C for adult women is 75 mg (about the amount in one average-sized orange) and 90 mg (about 1.5 average-sized oranges) for men. The maximum safe daily intake should not exceed 2000 mg.

Despite the many benefits of vitamin C, long-term excessive intake can cause adverse reactions, such as more than 3 grams/day may cause abdominal pain, diarrhea; More than 4 g/week may form urinary stones, severe cases will appear hematuria and renal colic. Long-term excess will also accelerate the metabolism and excretion of vitamin C in the body, and symptoms of scurvy may occur after stopping the drug.

Therefore, vitamin C is not the more the better, excessive intake is not good for the human body, or even harmful. High-dose vitamin C supplementation is limited to short-term use (3-5 days) during colds.

Myth 2: Vegetables and fruits chopped or juiced Vitamin C is easier to absorb Vitamin C is extremely unstable and can be destroyed during storage, cooking and even shredding. Prolonged storage, excessive salt, and prolonged heating will increase the loss of vitamin C. When vegetables are cooked at high temperature for 5-10 minutes, the vitamin C loss can reach 70%-90%.

Therefore, when processing vegetables with high vitamin C content, the following points should be noted:

☆ Less salt, hot frying and braising time as short as possible;

☆ It is best to eat raw after washing; ☆ Wash vegetables before cutting them when cooking; ☆ Stir-fry vegetables when they are cut and try to shorten the exposure time in the air; ☆ Do not use copper for cooking, try to use iron wok.

Myth 3. Eating fruit is too much trouble Replace it with vitamin C drugs While there are vitamin C supplements on the market, natural vitamin C contains vitamin P (bioflavonoids), which can enhance stability.

Citrus fruits are rich in this natural compound. Unless vitamin C is lost in large amounts or is difficult to obtain through food, vitamin C should be supplemented through fresh fruits and vegetables.

Myth 4. Vitamin C prevents colds Eat more during flu season Studies show that vitamin C is only effective for people who already have cold symptoms, not for preventing colds.

Misconception 5. Drinking lemon water or eating fruit can also fill up vitamin C when you catch a cold, the demand for vitamin C surges, but often lack of appetite, and it is difficult to take enough from your daily diet. When treating a cold, vitamin C intake should reach at least 1 g/day, generally no more than 2 g/day. Dietary supplements or medications may be needed.

Vitamin C has a variety of dosage forms, such as: vitamin C tablets, vitamin C injection, vitamin C granules, vitamin C effervescent tablets, vitamin C effervescent granules, compound vitamin C sodium chewable tablets, etc., the price difference is also very large. In general, over-the-counter (OTC) preparations are more cost-effective than health food preparations.

It is recommended to take vitamin C tablets or effervescent tablets, vitamin C tablets are inexpensive, effervescent tablets can be brewed with warm water, which not only supplements vitamin C, but also increases drinking water.

Misconception 6. Vitamin C who can eat gout, urinary calculus patients should avoid the use of vitamin C drugs. Large doses of vitamin C may affect clotting function, and patients who are taking anticoagulants should not be supplemented with large doses.

In addition, some vitamin C effervescent tablets contain high sodium content, and it is necessary to reduce dietary salt or other high-sodium foods when using.

https://www.gremountint.com/ascorbic-acid-is-also-known-as-vitamin/