What Do Doctors Say About Using Supplements if You Have the Flu?

This time of year is infamous for illness – from the common cold to the dreaded flu. And, it isn’t hard to tell when the flu season has arrived because everyone is talking about it.

As soon as you feel the first onset of a headache, a dry cough, a fever, tiredness, an aching body, or all of the above you likely find yourself running to your practitioner questioning if the flu has taken you as its next victim.

The flu is the dreaded illness that puts you down and out for days and you are pretty much sure to be miserable the entire time…

And, while you can take some medication for it, the illness really just seems to have to run its course. So, you might find yourself wondering if you can continue your normal routine with your supplements. Or, maybe you are wondering if you can start taking supplements to help speed up the healing process.

Well, keep reading to see what the experts have said in our research:

Supplements are Good

Supplements are good for you just in general – from improving your skin to helping relieve some stress to the various other things that supplements can do. Supplements are a great way to keep your body healthy and improve some of the functions it is already doing no need to assume a scam as soon as you hear about them.

So, when you get sick – even with the flu – it is no different.

When it comes to the flu, an endless list of natural approaches exists that people have used to try to cure themselves, but, there is no evidence that they actually work. However, with supplements, there has been research done which shows their ability to prevent or shorten a cold or the flu.

There are several supplements out there that offer several benefits, most of which are specific to instances such as the common cold or the flu.

Now, let’s narrow down what supplements to take while you have the flu:

What supplements should I take?

One key aspect to keep in mind when you have a cold or the flu is that you should ideally look for supplements, or other items, that are vitamin C rich.

Why?

Well, because vitamin C is an antioxidant that is used by the body to keep itself strong and healthy. It is used in a variety of aspects including the maintenance of blood vessels, bones, and muscle. In addition, it assists in the formation of collagen and aids in the absorption of iron. So, overall, it is a vitamin that is incredibly important to your body.

But, before you go drink an entire gallon of orange juice when you feel the flu coming on, consider taking the time to review these other supplements that can provide you with other flu-fighting agents:

1. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is most likely to help those who are deficient in it, and in fact, as much as 40 percent of Americans are. If you don’t get out in the sun much, don’t consume dairy or other foods with vitamin D, then you are likely to be deficient in it.

This particular supplement can do amazing things for those suffering from the flu and respiratory infections, such as pneumonia. In studies, vitamin D actually seemed to cut an individuals’ risk of these infections in half.

2. Echinacea

Although it is not well understood how Echinacea works, it does have a long history of treating respiratory infections and several studies show it can help reduce symptoms of a cold and help you get over them much faster.

It appears that the supplement has a positive effect on the immune system and aids the body in fighting off germs. It does so by increasing the number of white blood cells, which are the cells that fight infection in your body.

3. Zinc

Zinc is beneficial in two ways: First, your immune system requires zinc to work properly. Secondly, if you take zinc as a lozenge, it can work on the throat and reduce the severity and duration of the symptoms caused by the common cold and the flu.

So, supplements are a great idea just in your everyday life to ensure you stay healthy and are not deficient in anything. However, when your immune system is compromised by an illness, such as the flu, supplements can be increasingly beneficial to your body.

Steven is a writer and blogger at Cardzgroup. He lives in Los Angeles, California and enjoys spending time with his family and on his motorcycle when not writing. He can be reached at oneroadtorecovery@gmail.com