Vitamins that offer protection against Colds and the Flu

The following dosages are for an adult weighing 150 pounds, 68 kilograms, or 11 stone. While many different factors are involved in determining vitamin needs for a specific individual, certainly taking body weight into consideration is very important.

• Vitamin C – 1,000 mg a day, in divided dosages
• Vitamin D – 5,000 IU (or 32 IU per pound of body weight per day)
• Vitamin A – 10,000 IU twice a week
• Zinc – 25 mg a day

Ever since Linus Pauling promoted the use of vitamin C, people have considered it important to immune health. To prevent colds, 1 gram or 1,000 mg a day is a reasonable dosage taken either in a time release form or in divided dosages (such as 250 mg) through out the day, since it is water soluble.

Vitamins A and D are oil soluble and should be taken with a meal that contains some fat or oil.

Vitamin D is widely reported to prevent the common cold. The recommended 5,000 IU a day amount indicates that a mere 400 IU won’t do the job. Vitamin D blood tests are recommended for figuring out exactly how much “D” a specific individual should be taking.

There is a vitamin D revolution taking place, but to boost your natural immunity 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood levels of at least 38 ng/mL are highly recommended.

Both Vitamin A, in the animal or retinol form, and the mineral Zinc protect against chronic infections. Generally, being plagued by repeated ear infections, for example, indicates that you are grossly deficient in Vitamin A.

Unlike vitamin D, recommended blood levels for vitamin A are no where to be found in the scientific literature. The above recommended dosage is actually less than the RDA for vitamin A and is based upon the results of blood tests. Even if you are eating a horrible diet, this dosage should be able to put you in the middle of the normal blood range for retinol. You just have to remember that vitamin A is NOT candy. Grossly over doing retinol supplementation on a long term basis can lead to liver failure.

Again, taking vitamin A blood tests are recommended for more certainty. Remember that a little bit of “A” goes a long way. Everyone uses up Vitamin A daily in the body’s mucous linings, as well as throughout the entire length of your gut or colon.

In conclusion, there are many natural ways to strengthen your immune system. Remember to stay away from vaccines and vaccination since nobody obtains health at the end of a needle.