As the winter draws near, many of us reach for the safety of our vitamin collection to ward off colds and flu, but research has found that supplements are actually less effective than taking other preventative measures.
The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has found that washing your hands more frequently, for example, can be more beneficial at fighting colds than taking dozens of vitamin C tablets. It is often assumed that dosing up on vitamin C and other antioxidants is the best way to protect against colds, and it is believed that vitamin C can help ward off cancer, thus helping us to live longer.
Vit C benefits exaggerated
In its findings, the IQWiG disputes the fact that vitamin C can have such a wonderdrug effect and states that over-use can be harmful to the body.
"Not only is there no proof that some antioxidants prolong life, but there is some evidence that certain products may even lead to earlier death", says Professor Peter Sawicki, the Institute's Director.
Positive news gives people hope, which can quickly spread and become deeply held beliefs. Professor Sawicki: "It can be very difficult to accept that these beliefs are myths, but they are not true if further research does not confirm them or the research points to the opposite conclusion."
Wash your hands and save your cash!
A study which included more than 11,000 children and adults showed that vitamin C did little or nothing to prevent the onset of colds. After giving doses of 2g per day (1g is already 10 times the daily dose) before and during the time the participants had a cold, the researchers concluded that vitamin C can reduce the length of colds by less than one day per year. Not exactly a wonder-cure then!
Instead, the IQWiG gives common sense advice to prevent the spread of germs, such a washing hands frequently, not touching your face and not shaking hands with other people. Seeing as winter is fast approaching, perhaps this is good news as we can ease our credit-crunch fears by reducing expenditure on supplements!
Relax and Stay Healthy
In order to stay fit and healthy at the coldest time of the year, it has been found that keeping stress levels low is key.
"Decreasing stress increases your immune cells," says Tiffany Field, PhD, director of the Touch Research Institute of the University of Miami School of Medicine.
One recommended source of relaxation is a monthly massage, because as well as allowing the body to relax, massage regulates blood flow, reduces blood pressure and the overall heart rate.