-

I have grown up believing that Vitamin C is the best remedy for the common cold and flu. While it is not entirely wrong, it wasn’t until I became a parent myself that I started to research more into nutrition and vitamins that could help my little ones avoid catching, or recover faster from the common cold or flu.

It was then that I realised that hey it’s a mineral called Zinc, when taken together with Vitamin C, is far more effective in reducing the severity and the duration of the common cold. What exactly are the benefits of Vitamin C with Zinc? Lets talked about them individually.

Vitamin C

Citrus fruits are rich in Vitamin C.

Vitamin C is considered as a safe and effective nutrient commonly associated as a cure for the common cold, which many experts have since dispelled this claim. In actual fact, Vitamin C’s benefits are far more than what we probably know. Vitamin C are known to protect against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, eye disease, and even skin wrinkling because it helps our body to make collagen (isn’t this better than Botox?).

A higher blood level of Vitamin C can also elevate your mood. Vitamin C is said to support the metabolism of fat and cholesterol. According to a 2008 analysis published in the “Journal of Chiropractic Medicine,” a daily supplement of 500mg of Vitamin C was able to lower both triglycerides and bad cholesterol, or LDL. The true benefits of Vitamin C lies in its ability to protect our health, from cardiovascular, cancer, stroke, eye health and immunity.

Zinc


Zinc is needed for the proper growth and functioning of the human body. It is found in several systems and biological reactions, and it is needed for immune function, wound healing, blood clotting, thyroid function, and much more. Zinc is an essential mineral that is critical for the functioning of many enzymes in our body. For example, our body requires zinc to convert Vitamin A to retinol, a light-absorbing protein in our eyes in order for us to see in the dark. Zinc was found to have reduced the progression of age-related eye diseases.

Vitamin C and Zinc


Immunity Booster. Vitamin C and Zinc can provide your body with an immunity boost. Vitamin C stimulates your immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells, which help your body fight infections. Meanwhile, Zinc is important to many enzymes within our immune system. It also assists white blood cells with infection-fighting.

Reducing Common Cold Symptoms. In a 2011 study published in “Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews”, it was noted that taking zinc supplements 24 hours after the onset of common cold symptoms can reduce the severity and duration of the common cold. In addition, Vitamin C and Zinc may help prevent more serious diseases and ailments, such as cancer, gout and pneumonia.

Antioxidants. Vitamin C and Zinc are dietary antioxidants that protect your body from damages caused by tobacco smoke, pollution and radiation. Vitamin C is a very effective antioxidant, which can also help regenerate vitamin E, another important antioxidant. Zinc combines with copper to create a major antioxidant enzyme in your body called copper-zinc super oxide dismutase.

Food with Vitamin C and Zinc


Citrus, berries and nuts for your dose of Vitamin C and Zinc.

Here are some food which are high Vitamin C:

  • Citrus fruits
  • Strawberries
  • Red peppers
  • Broccoli


Food high in Zinc includes:

  • Shellfish
  • Meats
  • Milk products
  • Nuts


So remember now, next time when you or your little ones catches a cold, don’t just aim for Vitamin C. Boost  your immune system with some additional Zinc as well to enjoy a speedy recovery!

Did you know of any vitamin and minerals that aids the recovery of the common cold/flu?

Comments

Post a Comment

You might also like

Mahdis Mohamaadi – The Internet is Mesmerised by this Iranian Girl

-
Image
If your daughter is so pretty, would you quit your job and be her full time bodyguard? A father in Iran did just that for fear that her daughter’s good looks may bring her unwanted harassment or harm. Little Princess from Iran, Mahdis Mohammadi Meet 8-year-old Iranian girl Mahdis Mohammadi who has a pair of big dark eyes, thick eyelashes and a high nose. She has been praised by foreign media as being “the most beautiful girl in the world.” Despite her young age, Mahdis has a super-beautiful appearance. In addition, her parents like to dress her up as a little princess. Her parents hope that she will go into literature and arts after she grows up. She maybe a musician or a dancer, depending on her daughter’s own development, talent and choice. But for now, Mahdis’ dream is to become a teacher or a scientist. She is also interested in literature and nature. 189k followers on Instagram and the number is still growing. Mahdis’ parents also created an Ins
Read more

Don't Leave Baby's Clothes to Dry Outdoors Overnight – Superstition?

-
Image
I bet most of you have heard your parents or you parent-in-laws said this before. Do not hang baby’s clothes out to dry  overnight . They must be kept indoors before sunset! I have been following this advice for as long as I can remember without questioning the rationale behind this. Science vs Superstition I assume it was some kind of superstition, where after dark, some “dirty things” may find the baby clothing cute and stay with it etc. I wasn’t really convinced by this superstition beliefs really. So why can’t we leave baby’s clothes out to dry at night? For many families, laundry is usually done at night after a long day at work. After the clothes are washed, you would naturally hang them out to dry (unless you have a dryer of course). Here are some scientific explanations why your clothes shouldn’t be left to dry outdoors at night: Bugs Party Once night falls, the bugs are out to party. Insects and bugs are generally more active at night than the day.
Read more

Novita Air Purifier – NAP101i Review

-
Image
Quick Specifications: 52 Watts (0.7 Watts at standby) 4-Step Purification Coverage Up To 270 sq. ft. or 25sqm Semi-Permanent Built-In Ionizer ≥ 9 Million Negative Ions per cm3 novita PuriClean™ Air Purifier NAP101i novita is a very familiar brand in Singapore with a wide range of products ranging from air purifiers, water purifiers and more recently, they have come out with other products such as fans and massage devices. My novita air purifier which I bought more than three years ago is still running strong, giving me full confidence in their range of products. Back to what they do best, which is air purifier, their basic model NAP101i is by no means inferior to its bigger brothers like the NAP606 and the NAP002Hi. I would recommend the NAP101i for a typical HDB bedroom since its coverage is up to 25sqm. If you need to purify the air for the living/dining room, then you might consider the larger NAP606 which can cover up to 38sqm. The NAP101i offers the powerf
Read more

Tongue Tie Surgery and Recovery – My Greatest Regret

-
Image
I recently read a post from The Asianparent which talks about a common condition called Tongue Tie. This has brought emotions which I had been trying to bury for the past 2 years. I brought my son for a tongue tie release surgery when he was only two months old. It was the worst decision in my life. I probably would never be able to forget the ordeal for the rest of my life. For parents who are unfamiliar with the condition, let me extract some key points from the article. If you want to skip the standard textbook write up on tongue tie and read about my personal experience, scroll down. What is Tongue Tie A tongue tie or ankyloglossia, is a condition where a short thick tissue connects the bottom of a tongue’s tip to the floor of the mouth. This restricts the movement of the tongue, making it difficult for a baby to stick his tongue out, breastfeed, swallow or sometimes even vocalise. Symptoms of a Tongue Tie Here are some most common characteristics of th
Read more