To think that vitamin C and vitamins for immunity are a scam

[HowManyDucks]

I've had four horrible colds this year already. Its only April. I have a very healthy diet, rich in vitamin C (I have a kiwi everyday and at least one portion of broccoli, as well vitamin drinks etc). People have said to me "you'll probably fight it off faster", but no, seven days in (this morning is the worst!) and it is impossible to swallow, sinus headache and nose is running like a tap. I also have a sock one year old and a single mum so it's not much fun. Going to put my trainers on now for a run to try a sweat some of it out!

No, it's not a scam. It's also not a guarantee.

Lots of vitamins just amount to an expensive wee, you should be getting the majority of what you need from your diet. The only vitamin that is recommended to everyone in the UK is vitamin D.

Correlation is not causation.

You have a one year old, that's the problem. Unfortunately small people share all their germs and I doubt you're body and immunity is fully recovered from pregnancy yet either. It gets better.

Going to put my trainers on now for a run to try a sweat some of it out!

The best thing you can do to clear a cold is rest. I appreciate as a single mum this might not be easy, but rest when you can and don't go out running until your sinuses and throat are OK.

Vitamin C, D3 and zinc are proven to work together to support the immune system.

Don’t run when you have an illness. You can damage your heart.

I agree your one year old is the issue. I will say though I did used to get colds much more often, I work in a school, and a few years ago I got a bit obsessive with hand washing and I get fewer colds. I try to throughly wash my hands every time I touch anything that might be germy, every time I get home, always before eating. I’m sure it helps.

The issue is that you have a one year old and they’re basically germ factories.

Please don’t go for a run and spread your sickness to everyone else.

Don’t run when you’re ill!

You shouldn’t be training when you’re ill, it puts strain on your heart.

I don’t understand how your title relates to your post.

Vitamin C is not a scam just because your immune system isn’t fighting off a cold quickly

Vitamin C for colds is a scam.

People also routinely under estimate how many colds it is normal to get, especially when you have young children, and think there must be something wrong with their immune system.

I only run when it's above the neck. Anything chesty, flue or muscle achy then running is a no no.

I think what gets forgotten with vitamins is they will only help if your existing levels of them was the cause (or part cause!) of the issue. E.g., if you're getting lots of colds because you're low in vit C, taking vit C will likely help. If you're getting lots of colds for some other reason (like having a little kid...) taking vit C probably won't help. They aren't a magic bullet, they might treat a deficiency but that that's about it - even then only "might" unless they are prescription strength!

I keep getting bloody colds despite having a balanced diet, no smoking or drinking, exercising etc. Getting all my vitamin C and with either multi vitamin or vitamin drinks to boost. It doesn't seem to do anything. Maybe in a lab environment it's 'proven' but in the real world, Im curious to know how much influence they have. Obviously, my knowledge of this topic is practical non existent(a level biology 😅), but anecdotally I have a valid basis for my suspicions.

I don't think this makes any difference. Your whole body is ill even if the symptoms are only in one part of it.

Rest and fluids is what you need.

If you aren’t getting enough vitamin C in your diet you will struggle to fight off infection.

If you are getting enough vitamin C, adding more won’t help.

You have a poorly small child. You will be breathing in his virus.

Im not planning on running close to anyone...I probably won't see a soul.

Running has the potential to turn it into a chesty cough. You need to rest so your body can focus its resources on fighting the infection.

Taking extra vitamin C will only help prevent colds if low Vitamin C is why you’re getting colds in the first place.

It’s not some kind of magic cure to prevent all colds - if you have a one year old that’s full of germs (as they all are) then it won’t make any real difference.

You still shouldn’t go out running with a cold - you’ll feel even worse. Rest and fluids is what you need.

Exercising when you have a virus puts extra strain on your body and will make it harder, not easier to fight the virus off.

Vitamin C and/or a good diet doesn't guarantee you won't get viruses. It's just you're more likely to get them and find it harder to fight them off if you're deficient.

I usually have a rock solid immune system and colds only get me for a day here and there, but this year something took me out for like 6 weeks.
But yes, the problem is having a child. Going to all the baby groups, soft play, if your child is in childcare, they’ll pick it all up. Also, the year after having my son i was far worse at picking up everything because my immune system was shot from pregnancy, birth, breast feeding and exhaustion.

But eating healthy very much does help on the whole and usually when I feel a cold coming on, I’ll take one of those vit c tabs in a drink, and 9/10 I’ll be okay the next day. But of course everyone is very different.

Vitamin supplements only help if you have a deficit. Otherwise, as GPs love to say, it’s just expensive wee.

If you are lacking Vitamin D or iron, you may be tired. Vitamin C, your skin may be crap and your immune system not at its best. Etc etc.

Small children are virus incubators - between nursery and playgroups and so in, they share bugs at a phenomenal rate, have no personal hygiene around coughs and sneezes (because they are too young) and basically share all that lovely stew of illness with their families.

I hope you feel better soon.