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Today we are talking about cold and prevention.
With winter coming and low temperatures it often happens to get a cold virus (it has been estimated that the connected virus strains are more than 200).
The symptoms linked to cold are in particular: postnasal drip, joint and bone pains, headache and chills.
The duration of symptoms can usually vary from two days to a week unless complications occur that can cause bronchitis for example, so it requires the assumption of an antibiotic which has to be prescribed by the doctor.
There are some simple actions that can help to prevent contagion and enhance the immune system.
Firstly you must pay attention to the intestine: it is where 75% of our immune system defences are produced; probiotic assumption helps the intestinal bacterial flora wellbeing, which is essential as first defence form against oxidative stress and infections.
The assumption of vitamins and minerals with the diet is essential to enhance immune system, so it is important to eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and if it is not enough,you have to use specific food supplements, which contain high concentration of them.
Some vitamins are recommended in particular:
- vitamin C: several researches have showed that vitamin C is very efficient to prevent cold and flu (50% lower chance)provided that you take it as a deterrent regularly. A gram of vitamin C daily is more than sufficient Taking vitamin C when you are ill is useless because it has no effect.
- group B vitamins: it is a group of vitamins (B1, B2, B3, vitamin PP, B5, B6, B8, B9, B12, vitamin H) that alltogether have the function of reducing the effects caused by stress, tiredness and irritability and they contribute to a good functioning of the nerve system.
- vitamin E:it is a powerful antioxidant which protects the cell membranes from the attack of free radicals, molecules that weaken the immune system. Vitamin E has a vasodilatatory function.
- coenzyme Q10, vitamin A,C, lipoic acid and trace element (selenium, manganese, copper e zinc):these substances neutralize free radicals in an efficient way.
- vitamin D: it helps to enhance bones.