Does Vitamin C Prevent Swine Flu (H1N1)?
There have been no studies that have shown the Vitamin C prevents the 2009 Swine Flu (H1N1), or any other flu virus, shortens its duration or makes the illness milder. However, what Vitamin C does do is strengthen the immune system. Since the immune system is how the body fights off any virus, a strong system makes sense. Vitamin C boosts the production of white blood cells, antibodies and interferon, all of which are critical to fighting Swine Flu (N1H1) and lots of other illnesses.
Vitamin C is found naturally in many foods such as oranges, lemons, limes, strawberries, and leafy greens. One of the best sources of Vitamin C is kiwi fruit. One small kiwi fruit has twice the Vitamin C as a medium orange. Many foods are fortified with Vitamin C, and of course it’s available as a supplement. Since the vitamin is water soluble it is not stored in the body. Any excess over what the body requires for that day is excreted. However any substance can be toxic if too much is taken at any one time, even water. Drinking copious amounts of water can throw off the electrolyte balance of the body.
How much vitamin C is recommended? 60 mg is the recommended amount to take daily. However the body’s requirement varies depending on age, activity level, and exposure. for example people under stress, and smokers, require more. Many people believe that 500 mg is the optimum dosage. An orange has 70 mg of vitamin. It would be a challenge to consume 500 mg just through foods.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=d13297b4-32e6-4626-b825-a1af73d5887d)
All of the official studies on Vitamin C so far have been deeply and completely flawed so far. They have all been based on giving test subjects fixed amounts of Vitamin C that have been too far below an effective amount. The correct study would be to test the capacity of the human body to absorb Vitamin C during viral infection. It would be such a simple experiment and vastly safer than nearly all the drugs deemed legally safe for human use in the US. Vitamin C is non-toxic and your body flushes it out when it cannot take any more. Your body cannot store Vitamin C so the key is to take as much as your body will use in a steady amount and lower or spread out intake once you hit the limit. You will not dehydrate yourself unless you are a complete fool The limit changes during the course of a virus and is also dependent on how ill you are by the virus and the type of virus. A gram or so an hour for a cold, 100 grams a day (IV) for severe mono. It also helps to get started as soon as possible, it can take a lot less to get better at the beginning of an infection than once the infection is in full swing.