Vitamins help maintain health
- posted: 04 Oct. 2007
- scrollspecial@byui.edu
The season of sickness will soon be here as viruses attack the immune systems of the student body. How should students plan to keep from getting sick?
“I take Airborne,” said Rebecca Norris, a sophomore studying business management, “along with multi-vitamins and Echinacea.”
Many students take immunity boosters in the forms of vitamins, pills and Airborne, which is a preventive cold medicine.
Vitamin C tops the list of immunity boosters for many reasons.
Its effects are well researched, it’s available in many fruits and vegetables, and you can buy a vitamin-C-fortified version of just about anything.
Vitamin C was recently discovered to stop the growth of some tumors, reduce the risk of heart disease and other health disorders, according to www.vitamincfoundation.org.
Not only does it help with major health problems, but vitamin C can prevent other commen ailments.
“At the first sign of cold or flu, begin taking at least 8 g of vitamin C as ascorbic acid every 20 minutes for three to four hours until bowel tolerance,” according to www.vitamincfoundation.org.
Good sources of vitamin C can be oranges, broccoli and bell peppers, according to the Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
The best way to get a healthy dose of vitamin C is to eat at least six servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
However, if using supplements, it’s best to spread the dosages throughout the day.
Vitamin E is equally important to the immune system and can be found in seeds, vegetable oils and grains.
It is difficult to consume enough vitamin E to help the immune system solely through diet. Supplements can help provide the necessary boost.
Beta carotene is converted to vitamin A and is found in brightly colored orange and yellow fruits and vegetables. One of the best sources of beta carotene is sweet potatoes.
Too much vitamin A can be toxic to the body, so it’s best to get the extra beta carotene through your diet, rather than through supplements.
Zinc also assists the immune system, and supplements can be found in the form of zinc lozenges. These might help lessen existing cold symptoms, but it’s more important to have sources of zinc in your regular diet.
“Good food sources of zinc include meat, shellfish, milk and dairy foods,” according to www.eatwell.gov.
Store-bought supplements can benefit the fight against fall sickness, but nothing can replace the vitamins and minerals that come from a healthy diet. 
