How much vitamin C do you need when you have a cold?

Research shows that regularly taking 1,000 mg to 2,000 mg of vitamin C may reduce how long cold symptoms last and how severe they are.


How much vitamin C should I take with a cold?

The likelihood of success may vary from person to person. Some people improve, while others do not. Taking 1000 to 2000 mg per day can be safely tried by most people.

Does 1000mg of vitamin C help with a cold?

Taking vitamin C every day to try to prevent colds won't protect most people from colds. It only slightly shortens the amount of time that they're ill. Starting to take vitamin C once you already have cold symptoms won't have any effect on your cold.


How much vitamin C should I take daily when sick?

Taking 1000 to 2000 mg per day can be safely tried by most people. Taking too much can cause stomach upset. People with kidney disease should NOT take vitamin C supplements. Large doses of vitamin C supplementation are not recommended during pregnancy.

Does vitamin C help colds go away?

Vitamin C does not prevent colds and only slightly reduces their length and severity. A 2013 review of scientific literature found that taking vitamin C regularly did not reduce the likelihood of getting a cold but was linked to small improvements in cold symptoms.


No, Vitamin C won't cure your cold



What vitamins will shorten a cold?

Regarding vitamin C, regular supplementation (1 to 2 g/day) has shown that vitamin C reduces the duration (in adults by 8%, in children by 14%) and the severity of CC. Considering zinc, the supplementation may shorten the duration of colds by approximately 33%.

How do you shorten a cold?

Cold remedies that work
  1. Stay hydrated. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. ...
  2. Rest. Your body needs rest to heal.
  3. Soothe a sore throat. ...
  4. Combat stuffiness. ...
  5. Relieve pain. ...
  6. Sip warm liquids. ...
  7. Try honey. ...
  8. Add moisture to the air.


Is 1000mg of vitamin C too much?

The recommended daily amount for vitamin C is 75 milligrams (mg) a day for women and 90 mg a day for men. During pregnancy, 120 mg a day are recommended. The upper limit for all adults is 2,000 mg a day.


Can you double up on vitamin C when sick?

Taking megadoses of vitamins and other supplements doesn't do anything to prevent or shorten illness. Myth: Taking extra vitamin C helps prevent colds, the flu and other winter maladies.

How much zinc to fight a cold?

How Much Zinc Should I Take? The amount of zinc required to help fight off a cold is not firmly established. However, one study of both zinc acetate and zinc gluconate lozenges found that taking 75 milligrams a day shortened colds between 12%–48%.

What are the 5 stages of cold?

The stages of a cold include the incubation period, appearance of symptoms, remission, and recovery.


Does taking vitamin C while sick help?

Can Vitamin C Prevent or Treat Cold Symptoms? Vitamin C has been studied for many years as a possible treatment for colds, or as a way to help prevent colds. But findings have been inconsistent. Overall, experts have found little to no benefit from vitamin C for preventing or treating the common cold.

How do you get rid of a cold fast?

To help you get better more quickly:
  1. rest and sleep.
  2. drink plenty of water (fruit juice or squash mixed with water is OK) to avoid dehydration.
  3. gargle salt water to soothe a sore throat (not suitable for children)


Should I take vitamin C or D for a cold?

Vitamin C. Vitamin C is marketed as the go-to supplement for preventing and treating colds.


How do you get rid of a cold in 24 hours?

There is no way to get rid of a cold fast. A cold will usually go away on its own without treatment. However, a person may experience uncomfortable symptoms while they recover. People can take steps to aid recovery, such as getting plenty of rest.

How long does a common cold last?

In adults and older children, they usually last about 7 to 10 days, but can last longer. A cough in particular can last for two or three weeks. Colds tend to last longer in younger children who are under five, typically lasting around 10 to 14 days.

Does zinc and vitamin C help with colds?

Both vitamin C and zinc are effective at boosting the immune system. The problem is, you can't boost your immune system enough with these two nutrients while battling a cold. Instead, you need to be using these supplements year-round to avoid the common cold in the first place.


Is 5000 mg of vitamin C too much?

The maximum recommended amount, or upper limit, is 2,000mg per day for all adults. Taking more than the upper limit for vitamin C isn't life-threatening, but you may experience side effects like: abdominal pain. cramps.

Does vitamin C help with flu?

Myth: Vitamin C can prevent illness.

When taken before cold symptoms start, vitamin C may shorten the duration, but it doesn't keep you from getting sick.

What happens if you take 1000 vitamin C?

It is not stored in large amounts in the body. Taking too much vitamin C is unlikely to cause harmful effects; however, taking vitamin supplements in mega doses (2,000 or 3,000 mg per day) can cause diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, heartburn, headache and insomnia.


What to eat to get rid of a cold?

Kale, broccoli, cranberries, green tea, red onions, blueberries: What do these have in common? All have an antioxidant called quercetin that may help you fight the common cold.

Is fresh air good for you when you're sick?

Get Some Fresh Air

In fact, getting fresh air is good for you when you're feeling under the weather. When you're cooped up inside, you're sharing the same air with those around you. So every time someone coughs or sneezes inside, those infected droplets are still in the air.

Can you sweat out a cold?

You may have heard that it's beneficial to “sweat out a cold.” While exposure to heated air or exercise may help temporarily relieve symptoms, there's little evidence to suggest that they can help treat a cold.


Does vitamin D cure a cold?

Vitamin D cannot be a cure for the common cold for everyone, but it can slightly reduce the risk of infection by about 10%.

Does vitamin D shorten a cold?

We found that vitamin D supplementation did not reduce the likelihood of getting a common cold, but it did reduce the number of days a participant had a common cold by 36%. It also reduced the peak severity of common cold symptoms by 15%.
Previous question
Are apples high in iron?