Boost your understanding of cold-and flu-friendly supplements, and good health will follow. Vitamin C, D, probiotics, etc.
VITAMIN C
Although there is some debate as to supplementary vitamin C's effectiveness in treating and preventing the common cold, it remains an essential nutrient and powerful antioxidant of great benefit to the immune system. According to the Complementary and Alternative Medicine review board, regular use of vitamin C supplements can slightly reduce the severity and duration of cold symptoms. However, when taken as treatment at the onset of illness, vitamin C proved no more beneficial than a placebo.
Recommended dose: 500 to 1,000 mg daily
ECHINACEA
this flowering plant is most commonly used to treat upper respiratory infections and sore throats. Again, contrary to popular opinion, research into echinacea and the common cold has yielded mixed results. However, there are many variables to consider (different studies looked at different types of echinacea and even different parts of the plant), which make it difficult to directly compare the results and may account for some of the inconsistencies amongst the findings.
Recommended dose: 300 to 600 mg twice daily
VITAMIN D
There is no question as to this vitamin/ hormone's benefit to the immune system. in fact, a recent study out of Oregon State University revealed that vitamin d is so crucial to human immunochemistry that its ability to boost immune function and destroy invading microorganisms has been preserved in the genome for over 60 million years. Vitamin d deficiency has not only been linked to an increased risk of influenza, but also of cancer, autoimmune disease and overall mortality.
Recommended dose: 1,000 IU daily
IMMUNITY-FX
The latest offering from the makers of Cold-FX is meant to be taken daily to strengthen the immune system. Like its older brother, immunity-FX is a highly purified, standardized product derived from North American ginseng root. the active ingredient in both, CVt-e002, has been shown in numerous studies to stimulate both the innate and adaptive immune responses. in fact, one study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in October 2005 observed a 25 percent risk reduction in the average number of colds and a 31 percent drop in the severity of symptoms with Cold-FX. the duration of illness also lessened. What sets immunity-FX apart is the addition of reishi mushroom extract to the formulation. reishi has been used in natural medicine for over 2,000 years and contains various compounds with potent immuno-modulating capabilities.
Recommended dose: one capsule twice daily
PROBIOTICS
These "friendly bacteria" are actually natural inhabitants of the intestinal tract. they protect the body from invaders, activate immune cells and increase the activity of natural killer cells. However, our digestive system's natural flora is easily disturbed. in such cases, probiotic supplementation can help the body rebuild healthy populations of protective bacteria and recapture the significant immune benefits. Look for a product that is stable at room temperature and contains at least three billion live cells.
Recommended dose: one to three capsules daily after meals or as directed by your healthcare provider
HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES
Homeopathic remedies work very differently than herbs or conventional medicines to stimulate the immune system. they use very highly diluted doses of substances to gently encourage the body's own healing mechanisms. both mucococcinum and oscillococcinum (Oscillo) have been shown in clinical trials to be effective in treating seasonal flu.
Recommended dose: one tablet per week throughout flu season for prevention (mucococcinum); one entire unit-dose tube every six hours from the first sign of flu until symptoms disappear (Oscillo)
Note: Specific nutritional needs vary from person to person, and some vitamins and herbs can react adversely with certain medications. Speak to your doctor or naturopath before embarking on any supplementation regimen.
Although there is some debate as to supplementary vitamin C's effectiveness in treating and preventing the common cold, it remains an essential nutrient and powerful antioxidant of great benefit to the immune system. According to the Complementary and Alternative Medicine review board, regular use of vitamin C supplements can slightly reduce the severity and duration of cold symptoms. However, when taken as treatment at the onset of illness, vitamin C proved no more beneficial than a placebo.
Recommended dose: 500 to 1,000 mg daily
ECHINACEA
this flowering plant is most commonly used to treat upper respiratory infections and sore throats. Again, contrary to popular opinion, research into echinacea and the common cold has yielded mixed results. However, there are many variables to consider (different studies looked at different types of echinacea and even different parts of the plant), which make it difficult to directly compare the results and may account for some of the inconsistencies amongst the findings.
Recommended dose: 300 to 600 mg twice daily
VITAMIN D
There is no question as to this vitamin/ hormone's benefit to the immune system. in fact, a recent study out of Oregon State University revealed that vitamin d is so crucial to human immunochemistry that its ability to boost immune function and destroy invading microorganisms has been preserved in the genome for over 60 million years. Vitamin d deficiency has not only been linked to an increased risk of influenza, but also of cancer, autoimmune disease and overall mortality.
Recommended dose: 1,000 IU daily
IMMUNITY-FX
The latest offering from the makers of Cold-FX is meant to be taken daily to strengthen the immune system. Like its older brother, immunity-FX is a highly purified, standardized product derived from North American ginseng root. the active ingredient in both, CVt-e002, has been shown in numerous studies to stimulate both the innate and adaptive immune responses. in fact, one study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in October 2005 observed a 25 percent risk reduction in the average number of colds and a 31 percent drop in the severity of symptoms with Cold-FX. the duration of illness also lessened. What sets immunity-FX apart is the addition of reishi mushroom extract to the formulation. reishi has been used in natural medicine for over 2,000 years and contains various compounds with potent immuno-modulating capabilities.
Recommended dose: one capsule twice daily
PROBIOTICS
These "friendly bacteria" are actually natural inhabitants of the intestinal tract. they protect the body from invaders, activate immune cells and increase the activity of natural killer cells. However, our digestive system's natural flora is easily disturbed. in such cases, probiotic supplementation can help the body rebuild healthy populations of protective bacteria and recapture the significant immune benefits. Look for a product that is stable at room temperature and contains at least three billion live cells.
Recommended dose: one to three capsules daily after meals or as directed by your healthcare provider
HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES
Homeopathic remedies work very differently than herbs or conventional medicines to stimulate the immune system. they use very highly diluted doses of substances to gently encourage the body's own healing mechanisms. both mucococcinum and oscillococcinum (Oscillo) have been shown in clinical trials to be effective in treating seasonal flu.
Recommended dose: one tablet per week throughout flu season for prevention (mucococcinum); one entire unit-dose tube every six hours from the first sign of flu until symptoms disappear (Oscillo)
Note: Specific nutritional needs vary from person to person, and some vitamins and herbs can react adversely with certain medications. Speak to your doctor or naturopath before embarking on any supplementation regimen.
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Information courtesy of the National Post for public health benefit. Feb. 17, 2010
