Maybe. A large number of studies have shown that vitamin C does not prevent the common cold from happening, but it does help curb its severity and duration. If you don’t eat the optimal 9+ fruits and vegetables daily, then take a vitamin C supplement. The effective dose is about 500 milligrams to 2,000 milligrams daily starting at the first signs of a cold and taken in divided doses throughout the day. Discontinue after cold symptoms are gone. That’s only for adults; young children are much more susceptible to toxicity effects from vitamins and minerals, so keep their intake to within Daily Value levels or discuss higher doses with your physician.

Click the envelope to get my latest posts delivered to your inbox for free!
Want even more goodies? Sign up for my free Nutrition Tips newsletter
in the sidebar. You'll be glad you did!