SUPER NUTRITION FOR COLD THERAPY: VITAMIN A
Vitamin A plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of epithelial cells lining the mucosal tissues of respiratory passages. A deficiency of A causes these cells to dry out and become increasingly susceptible to viral penetration.
Vitamin A is also essential for optimal functioning of the adrenal, thyroid and thymus glands, each vital to immunocompetence. Vitamin A stimulates the thymus to produce more T cells. A healthy thyroid gland is essential for converting beta-carotene in food into additional vitamin A for use by the body. And without an adequate supply of vitamin A, the adrenal glands may secrete cortisol which directly suppresses the immune system. Subjects with the highest vitamin A content in blood plasma had the highest immunocompetence. Several studies on lab animals have confirmed that in animals deprived of vitamin A, the immune system is suppressed while supplementation with vitamin A bolstered immunocompetence in the test animals.
While the RDA for vitamin A is 5,000 IU daily, or 8,000 IU for pregnant women, many nutritionists believe that an intake of 10 to 15,000 IU would be more appropriate during a cold.
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