Vitamin C? Check. Echinacea? Check. What else should you be taking to keep colds and flu at bay this winter?
A study of more than 1000 people published in Pharmacological Research found that taking supplements of up to 1000mg of quercetin (a flavonoid found naturally in onions, garlic, apples, green and black tea, red grapes, citrus fruit, broccoli, berries, and leafy greens) was associated with a significant reduction in the number of sick days taken due to respiratory tract infections.
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Those people taking the supplements also reported that their symptoms were less severe and did not last as long.
As well as having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, the researchers said quercetin has unique antiviral effects that play a role in its cold-fighting ability.
Your say: What do you do to stave off sickness in winter?
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