You May Not Need Vitamin Supplements
The rainy season in Bangkok is upon us. Being in the heart of the rainy season also means we’re in the heart of cold and flu season. Whenever people start to get the sniffles, they tend to head to the nearest pharmacy to stock up on vitamin supplements. Many people think that taking vitamins is the best way to ward off a cold or the flu and to get better faster if you’re sick. They’ve heard the benefits of using vitamin C when you have a cold or flu. The problem is that the “benefits” of using vitamin C during cold and flu season have never been proven. It’s become a common folk myth that’s endured ever since it started gaining traction back in the early 70s.
Placebo Effect
In truth, you may not need any vitamin supplements at all. Unless a doctor has prescribed you as a treatment for a condition, your vitamin supplements provide you with little more than the placebo effect. People just feel healthier when they take their daily regimen of supplements. It’s an extra measure of health safety that may not do much good, but it rarely does any harm, either. Most supplements are safe to take as long as they’ve been cleared by your doctor or healthcare professional.
Vitamin C has been shown to offer little or no benefit to treating flu or colds, and this has been the result of over 60 years of research. Consuming massive amounts of vitamin C during flu season may boost the fortunes of supplement manufacturers, but it won’t keep you from getting the flu.
The best means of maintaining a healthy immune system are eating a well-balanced diet and exercising regularly. The truth is your body needs only a tiny amount of the vitamins and minerals contained in the most popular supplements. So, the next time you feel yourself coming down with a cold, you’d be better off resting and taking care of yourself than stocking up on vitamin supplements.