The Age-Old Claim: Can Vitamin C Really Boost Your Immunity?
For decades, many of us have been led to believe that taking high doses of vitamin C is the key to keeping those pesky colds at bay. But what if this popular myth has been nothing more than just that – a myth? According to experts, including Daniel M. Davis, head of life sciences at Imperial College London, the notion that vitamin C can prevent or cure the common cold is little more than an exaggeration.
At the root of this misconception lies Linus Pauling, a double Nobel laureate and influential chemist who championed the health benefits of vitamin C in his 1970 book Vitamin C and the Common Cold. While Pauling's enthusiasm for vitamin C was undeniably infectious, Davis argues that he grossly overstated its powers.
Research has consistently shown that taking high doses of vitamin C supplements does not significantly reduce the risk of catching a cold. In fact, studies suggest that people who regularly consume vitamin C are no more likely to get sick than those who don't. And while supplementation may slightly alleviate symptoms, this effect is modest at best – by around 8% in adults.
One potential explanation for why high-dose vitamin C seems to have some benefits is that health-conscious individuals who take these supplements tend to be healthier overall. However, when it comes to truly boosting the immune system, Davis recommends focusing on another essential nutrient: vitamin D.
Unlike vitamin C, which can be obtained through a balanced diet and sunlight exposure, vitamin D is more complex to maintain. While natural production of vitamin D is possible between March and October, during winter months, supplementation may be necessary. And research has demonstrated that vitamin D plays a far more critical role in immune health than vitamin C.
So the next time you reach for the orange juice or consider supplementing with high doses of vitamin C, remember: it's unlikely to be your best bet against the common cold. Instead, prioritize getting enough sunlight and focusing on maintaining optimal levels of vitamin D – the real key to unlocking a healthy immune system.
For decades, many of us have been led to believe that taking high doses of vitamin C is the key to keeping those pesky colds at bay. But what if this popular myth has been nothing more than just that – a myth? According to experts, including Daniel M. Davis, head of life sciences at Imperial College London, the notion that vitamin C can prevent or cure the common cold is little more than an exaggeration.
At the root of this misconception lies Linus Pauling, a double Nobel laureate and influential chemist who championed the health benefits of vitamin C in his 1970 book Vitamin C and the Common Cold. While Pauling's enthusiasm for vitamin C was undeniably infectious, Davis argues that he grossly overstated its powers.
Research has consistently shown that taking high doses of vitamin C supplements does not significantly reduce the risk of catching a cold. In fact, studies suggest that people who regularly consume vitamin C are no more likely to get sick than those who don't. And while supplementation may slightly alleviate symptoms, this effect is modest at best – by around 8% in adults.
One potential explanation for why high-dose vitamin C seems to have some benefits is that health-conscious individuals who take these supplements tend to be healthier overall. However, when it comes to truly boosting the immune system, Davis recommends focusing on another essential nutrient: vitamin D.
Unlike vitamin C, which can be obtained through a balanced diet and sunlight exposure, vitamin D is more complex to maintain. While natural production of vitamin D is possible between March and October, during winter months, supplementation may be necessary. And research has demonstrated that vitamin D plays a far more critical role in immune health than vitamin C.
So the next time you reach for the orange juice or consider supplementing with high doses of vitamin C, remember: it's unlikely to be your best bet against the common cold. Instead, prioritize getting enough sunlight and focusing on maintaining optimal levels of vitamin D – the real key to unlocking a healthy immune system.
! I mean, we've all been there, grabbing an extra glass of OJ thinking it'll magically make us immune, but let's get real 
. The truth is, it's just not that simple.
. So while it might make them feel better, it's not like they're actually boosting their immune system that much 
.
. I mean, we all know how hard it is to get enough of that stuff during winter months, but trust me, it makes a real difference in immune health 
. So yeah, ditch the vitamin C and grab some sunscreen instead! 
But now I'm thinking about it, maybe I've just been eating too many oranges and not getting enough sleep or something... 
Does anyone know how much vitamin D we should be taking daily? And what's the deal with sunlight exposure again? Can't we just take a vitamin D supplement all year round? 
turns out it's not as magic as we thought 
anyway vitamin D is like the new MVP 
but that's about it. I'd rather be getting some actual sunlight to boost my vitamin D levels 
And let's be real, most of us aren't eating a balanced diet anyway so why bother? Just saying, if you want to stay healthy and avoid the common cold, focus on your vitamin D levels, not just your daily dose of OJ 
. I've been taking it for years thinking it was gonna keep me from getting sick, but now I'm not so sure 
. Maybe that's why I'm not feeling so great lately 
. Does anyone know how much vitamin D I should be taking or when is the best time to take it? 
.
. but it looks like we were misled by his enthusiasm. meanwhile, vitamin d is actually the one that's been shown to have real benefits for immune health 
. makes sense, right?
And what's with our culture of supplement addiction anyway? It's like we're more focused on covering up our deficiencies than actually addressing the root causes of poor health. I guess what I'm saying is that this whole vitamin C debate just highlights how muddled our priorities are when it comes to healthcare. We need to start looking at things from a holistic perspective, not just popping pills and taking vitamins 
experts say its just an exaggeration lol. they say linus pauling was all hyped up about it back in 1970 but his claims were way off. honestly research shows it doesnt even make a diff, by 8% maybe?! that's not even a big deal! 
so what does work? vitamin d, duh! 
. So yeah, let's just chill on the high-dose vitamin C and focus on getting some actual sunlight instead 
My grandma used to swear by her daily dose of vitamin C to keep her from getting sick, but I guess it was just a coincidence. 
. Vitamin D seems like a more solid bet to me though... gotta get some sunlight and all that 
, but let's be real about what really works here 
but maybe it's just a habit at this point. Anyway, vitamin C does seem like an overhyped solution for keeping us healthy. 8% relief from symptoms is pretty meh if you ask me