Vitamins will help you fight off colds by supporting your immune system.


Getting extra vitamins has not been proven to prevent colds, but it will likely shorten the duration of a cold if you do get one.Don't take separate vitamins. Taking too much of extra vitamins has the potential to make you sick.
 Some studies show that vitamin C can shorten a cold’s duration as well.Drink diluted orange juice to increase your vitamin C intake as well as your water intake. Don’t drink too much juice since juice contains sugar.
Aim to get about 250-500 milligrams of vitamin C per day., Low vitamin D levels have been linked to higher risk for infection.Get some sunlight to boost your vitamin D levels. We make vitamin D when our skin is exposed to sunlight. Just 15 minutes of sun, or half the time it takes for your arms and face to become pink from the sun, is enough to boost the immune system.


If you spend more than 15 minutes in the sun, be sure to wear sunscreen. Some experts believe that you can still get the vitamin D benefits from the sunlight even when you protect your skin.
In winter when there is usually less sunlight, researchers are discovering that people may have a higher risk for respiratory infections such as colds. This is due in part to low vitamin D levels. Supplement low vitamin D levels with tablets or cod liver oil during the winter months.
Ask your doctor to check your vitamin D levels with a simple blood test.
 Some studies have shown that zinc can help prevent or shorten a cold.Eat foods rich in zinc, including beef or lamb, seafood, spinach, cashews and beans.Don’t take too much zinc. More than 40 milligrams per day may cause headaches, drowsiness, dizziness and other symptoms.
Some studies show that zinc shorten the duration of a cold in adults, but not in children.
Take a daily multivitamin.
Increase your intake of Vitamin C. Vitamin C will help your body fight off a cold.
Get Vitamin D every day.
Increase your intake of zinc.
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