The common cold is a general inflammation of the mucuous membranes of the respiratory passages caused by a variety of viruses.  Colds are highly contagious.  On the average, Americans contact two or three colds per year.

The difficulty modern medicine has had in finding a cure for the common cold may lie in the fact that there are so many different types of viruses that cause colds.  In addition, each new generation of viruses changes slightly in its chemical makeup.  At the start of a cold, the body’s immune system produces a chemcial called an antibody which attacks the virus, preventing harm to healthy cells.  For the body to effectively fight a virus, an antibody that exactly matches the virus must be produced.  The body is just not able to produce antibodies that can copy all the slight variations of each new virus.  Factors that lower the body’s resistance to virus infection are fatigue, overexposure to cold, recent or present infections, allergic reactions, and inhalation of irritating dust or gas.

A small percentage of the population never have colds.  It is believed that their body’s immune system in high and able to resist infections.

The virus is spread about two days before the symptoms appear.  Symptoms include nose and throat irritations, watery eyes, headaches, fever, chills, muscle aches, and temporary loss of smell and taste.

Prevention of colds includes adequate sleep and a well-balanced diet that reinforces the immune system.  Treatment includes adequate fluid and protein intake to sustain the losses that occur with fever.  Vitamin B6 helps in the production of antibodies that defend the body against infection.  Vitamin A is necessary to maintain the health of the mucous imembrane of the repiratory passages.  Some individuals have found that vitamin D is also helpful in the prevention of colds.  UFA (unsaturated fatty acids) reduce the incidence and duration of colds.

Reports on the role of vitamin Cin the treatment of the common cold are contradictory.  However, many authorities claim that the intake of vitamin C in amounts from 1 to 2 grams daily is effective in preventing a cold.  Another source indicates that at the onset of a cold, vitamin C taken in amounts of 600 to 625 milligrams every 3 hours may be successful for treatment.  The amount of vitamin C recommended for the prevention and treatment of a cold varies from individual to individual. 

CHALLENGE

The immune system protects the body from bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other harmful organisms. At times of the year when you’re more likely to be slowed down by immune challenges, it’s more important than ever to keep your immune system up to speed.

Anyone looking for a natural product that supports healthy immune function in the face of seasonal challenges.

People who would like to minimize the “downtime” sometimes experienced during seasonal transitions.

Adults and children who want to be prepared for the first moment they feel the need to bolster their immune system. 

Information obtained from Nutrition Almanac and Shaklee Product Guide 07