How about that vitamin C? Common cold helper?

Vitamin C does not prevent disease. It does help disease to go away faster. It is an essential vitamin, though, and it is good that you are taking it every day.The only real ways to prevent the cold are to wash your hands often and keep away from those who have it.

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Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Everyone knows that “antioxidant” is a good word, but let me see if I can explain what it really means. Bear with me for a minute.Our bodies are made up of atoms. They have a nucleus, with electrons around them. The nucleus is positively charged, and the electrons are negatively charged. I’ve heard it described as kind of like the sun with all the planets around it. When toxins get into your body, they cause what is known as “free radical damage.” That’s when one or more of the electrons get pulled away from the nucleus. They can bounce around your body, causing a bunch of damage, and leaving your body a lot more open to disease.Oxidation occurs with free radical damage. when an atom loses one or more of its electrons.An antioxidant prevents this from happening. It helps protect your cells and helps prevent this “free radical damage” from occurring, which, theoretically, would make your body less susceptible to disease.Hope this is what you were asking. it’s a bit on the technical side, but it’s the best way I’ve heard it explained so that I really understood what it was talking about.

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While taking vitamin C cannot guarantee you won’t catch a cold or flu, it does help bolster your immune system so it is less susceptible to one. Not a bad way to help dealing with over-exerted muscles either. Vitamin C helps to break down lactic acid in strained muscle tissue. Lactic acid is an irritant that causes the muscle pain.

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I’m a doctor.vitamin C will make you more resistant .

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vitamin C is an antioxidant, that is also involved in the immune system. if you’re maintaining enough vitamin C in your body, then taking more is just going to make your urine very expensive, and you will simply excrete it. having enough vitamin C will aid in warding off illnesses, but will not guarantee it. not having enough may incline you towards becoming sick easier as your body’s immune system isn’t at it’s fullest. although, while you are sick, your body may use up more vitamin C as it’s fighting off the infection, so that increasing your intake to offset the increased utilization would be recommended.colds and flus are caused by viruses however, and so there is no direct relation between not getting sick and vitamin C (again this is in your case where you probably are fine). to defeat a virus, your body must mount the appropriate defense – this based on your previous exposures and your immune system (which for unknown reasons can vary greatly from person to person). viruses and colds are also shared by contact with infective agents. perhaps the reason you did not get sick, was because you were not in direct contact with your bosses (typing on the same keyboard, sharing common space) or perhaps your hygiene is better (washing your hands for 30 seconds with soap and warm water, not touching your eyes and mouth). Finally, you could have been exposed, but your body either recognized the virus and was able to mount a quick immune response, or your immune system is simply better at fighting off infection. Note that by the time you start showing actual symptoms, the virus has already established itself. The symptoms are your body’s response to get rid of the virus (fever, runny nose, sore throat, etc).

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from what ive read it only really only does any good for colds if you are deficient (which usually isnt the case) or for people who are under a lot of physical stress (studies that have found vitamin C to be successful have been on populations that include soldiers in boot camp and endurance athletes- so it probably doesnt do much for preventing colds in the average joe who works in an office)

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Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a good immune stimulant and can aid in the prevention of colds, flu, and various infections. The major deficiency syndrome of vitamin C is scurvy.Ascorbic acid is best known for its antioxidant properties and its possible role in the prevention of certain chronic degenerative disorders, such as coronary heart disease and cancer. In fact, ascorbic acid may be the most important water-soluble antioxidant in the body.There are four primary forms of vitamin C:ascorbic acid – the water soluble form usually in compressed tablets.calcium ascorbate – mineral calcium combined with vitamin C (ascorbic acid). This lowered acidity combination is well-absorbed from the digestive tract. ester ascorbate – vitamin C formed in combination with alcohol compounds for increased bioavailability and decreased effects from acidity on the digestive system.ascorbyl palmitate – fat soluble vitamin CThe presence of bioflavanoids (vitamin C synergists) will aid in the beneficial activity of vitamin C in the various metabolic processes.

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Vitamin C makes your immune system work better, so it’s less likely for you to catch a simple cold. (After all, cold may be caused by dozens of viruses; some are more easily handled by the body than the others.)Flu, on the other hand, demands a greater work from the immune system, that of which, Vitamin C may not be enough. So to answer yuor question, YES Vitamin C is related with preventing and/or curing CERTAIN ‘simple’ diseases. But dont expect to get well with just vitamin C alone. Good luck to you too. My girlfriend has one now, actually,

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There is no proof vitamin C prevents cold but taking large doses up to 5000mgs at the beginning of the cold cycle may reduce the severity of symptoms. Most likely, you are more hygienically aware than your bf or others. The simplest way to avoid colds is frequent hand washing, drinking plenty of water and maintaining humidity in the air since cold viruses love dry conditions.