Medical Questions » Alternative Medicine Questions » Question No. 32
| Question: | Does Vitamin C really prevent or treat colds? My mother swears by it, but I' m not so sure. |
| Answer: | Unfortunately, no. It would be marvellous if vitamin C (ascorbic acid), or some other compound, could prevent or treat colds. The medical profession would promote it endlessly if it worked.
Exhaustive trials have not shown vitamin C to be any more effective than placebo (sugar pills) in dealing with colds.
The placebo effect can be very strong, and if a patient sincerely believes that a particular medication will work, they may rapidly recover.
A well-balanced diet containing food from all the groups (vegetables, fruit, cereals, meat and dairy products) will give you adequate vitamins, and with a reasonable amount of exercise and adequate rest, is probably the best way to promote your own health and prevent viral infections. |
|
|
