Staying Healthy During the Cold & Flu Season | Vitamin C

Vitamin C is more than just an immune booster. It’s a powerful antioxidant that supports reproductive health, shortens the duration of infections, and even increases your chances of conception. In this post, we break down how vitamin C works, why it’s essential for fertility, and how to use it safely to stay healthy during cold and flu season.
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Vitamin C isn’t just for fighting colds. It’s a true multitasker for your health and fertility. Studies show that supplementing with vitamin C can help the body produce collagen, heal wounds, widen blood vessels, and even increase the chances of getting pregnant by up to 25%! But perhaps most famously, vitamin C is revered for its immune-boosting properties.

Why Vitamin C Matters

Vitamin C is found naturally in many fruits and vegetables, but because it’s an essential vitamin, our bodies can’t make it on their own. As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C helps:

  • Fight free radicals and reduce inflammation

  • Strengthen the body’s natural defenses

  • Promote the production of white blood cells

  • Protect white blood cells from damage

  • Boost antibody production and natural killer cell activity

These benefits are not just theoretical, they’re backed by tons of science. Research shows vitamin C can prevent and treat viral and bacterial infections, shorten the duration of respiratory illnesses, and even improve outcomes in serious infections like pneumonia and COVID-19. For example:

  • A review of placebo-controlled trials found that 1 g of vitamin C daily reduced the duration of respiratory virus infections.

  • Critically ill COVID-19 patients often had very low or undetectable vitamin C levels, with lower levels correlating to worse outcomes.

  • People with pneumonia tend to have lower vitamin C levels, and supplementation has been shown to shorten recovery time.

How We Use Vitamin C at Home

To support immunity and fertility, everyone in my household supplements with a small daily dose of vitamin C. My go-to is Innate Response’s C Complete Powder, a whole-food blend. I prefer food-based supplements whenever possible because they are typically better absorbed and easier on the digestive system.

 

Vitamin C is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to supporting fertility and overall health. In my Fertile After 40 Masterclass, I guide women and their partners step-by-step through evidence-based strategies — from nutrition and supplementation to lifestyle and hormone support — to create the healthiest environment for conception.

Join the Masterclass today and take control of your fertility with a complete, science-backed plan.

As always, please talk to your doctor before starting any new supplements, especially if you’re trying to conceive or have any medical conditions.

References:
PMID: 29099763, 25157026, 16297506, 15139458, 24426232, 32847620, 32964205
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005532.pub3 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(03)00657-5 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2020.559811

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