Does Vitamin C Really Prevent Colds?
A reader shares his personal experience: 'I have been taking a gram a day of vitamin C for years and have not had a cold or the flu in all that time. The most important effect for me was that my constant postnasal drip stopped, ending years of discomfort and bad breath. The only time the drip returns is when, as an experiment, I halt my vitamin C. I have considered it might be placebo effect, but these experiments convince me. Since the minimum daily adult requirement is roughly the amount required to prevent scurvy, it may be too low. I was curious about science’s judgment of Dr. Linus Pauling’s theories. What is your opinion?'
What Does the Science Say?
Joe and Teresa Graedon respond: There is scientific evidence supporting the use of vitamin C, not so much to prevent colds as to treat them. A meta-analysis published in BMC Public Health (Dec. 11, 2023) of 10 randomized, double-blind trials found that vitamin C reduced the severity of colds. Additionally, research in Frontiers in Nutrition (June 5, 2025) shows that children and teens with higher levels of vitamin C in their bloodstreams have a lower chance of suffering respiratory infections. To learn more, you can listen to our interview with Dr. Harri Hemila in 'Show 1431: Vitamin C Studies on Colds & CANCER Vindicate Linus Pauling.'
Other Reader Tips: Dark Chocolate and Beets
Another reader describes how a Mediterranean diet, dark chocolate rich in flavonoids, and beets, along with exercise, have helped control his blood pressure. The experts agree, adding that the cardiovascular protective effects of light-to-moderate drinking are probably an illusion, according to a recent review in the Journal of Clinical Medicine (Dec. 30, 2025).