Taking Vitamins to help with Immune System

[girlfriend44]

Decided to take Vit C and Vit D this winter. Is it right that it will help build up your immune system to colds etc and maybe Covid?

I'm taking additional vitamin D and since being consistent I do find colds much milder. I was v v deficient though!

I take vitamin C with zinc - also good for the immune system and vitamin D. I hear echinacea is good. I have a rather feeble immune system. My doctor advised me to get cardiovascular exercise as this strengthens the immune system.

Yes it will help and so will taking zinc but the best thing you can do is fresh air and getting out every day if possible.

Vitamin D3 - 4,000 iu (the higher end amount recommended by the NHS)
Zinc - 15 mg (take 2 or 3 x if exposed, for a few days)
Vitamin C, with bioflavonoids - 1,000 mg
Elderberry syrup or quercetin when exposed to a virus (or when you feel the first tingles)

General good lifestyle stuff:
Cut right down on sugar, processed carbohydrates and junk food
Cut right down on alcohol
Lots of fresh colourful veg and fruit
De-stress
Get good quality adequate sleep
Fresh air/ventilation
Moderate, non-ultra strenuous exercise levels

I haven't had any kind of cold, flu or covid since around 2017-18 ish when I started taking vitamin D consistently, whereas before I'd get at least one cold per year. Might have had asymptomatic covid spring 2020 (before testing) as I had slightly "bleachy" airways and a tiny tickly throat, but felt 100% fine in myself and energy levels. Couple of weeks ago DH had covid, despite spending hours per day and night in the same room as him I tested negative and felt 100% well throughout.

Most of us are deficient in Vitamin D. A shame the government don't promote this as it's a cheap product that has great benefits to health.

Some great advice. I would add magnesium, topically, in the bath and orally . It's needed in so many processes and has a circular relationship with vitamin D.
Also things that promote gut health, particularly prebiotic foods, - garlic, onions, asparagus, leek, dandelion and so on.
Healthy fats. (Butter, olive oil, omega 3 oil)

In addition, there are studies to show NAC has a preventative/mitigating effect on lung issues, including covid.

I have been taking Vitamin D for a year after being found to be low in it, and I started taking a daily multivitamin/mineral about 3 months ago.

I had covid 2 weeks ago, so it didn't stop that, but I did have a mild dose of it.

Taking C and D this Winter.

I was diagnosed with exceptionally low vit d, so i started taking D3, as per others on this thread, since 2016.

Didn’t test positive for Covid at any point. I worked throughout. Partner works in the met, didn’t stop. Daughter was on covid site for a year, which was knocked out by covid.

Good chance i was in contact with it at some point, but luckily didn’t test +. Is there a correlation, don’t know but i suspected there was a long time ago, but it’s just guesswork.

i don’t take vit c, if i do, then stop, i get a cold.

This was pretty much me during lockdown (bar the elderberry syrup). I had a long commute so was grabbing ready meals - in lockdown I had time to think about what I was eating and how much exercise I was taking and improve on both.