Cold & Flu Season Supplements

Prevention is key to everything we do at Cooper Aerobics, especially when it comes to choosing supplements for cold and flu season†. With flu season upon us, it is important to build and support your immune system with a daily supplement routine†. No matter what strain hits this year, you can prepare yourself by taking a multivitamin, vitamin D and vitamin C, along with a balanced diet†.

Basic One Daily Multivitamin Iron Free

Foundational multivitamin support for daily nutrition, providing essential nutrients at meaningful levels.

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Choosing the Right Supplements for Cold and Flu Season†

Multivitamins to Fill Nutrient Gaps†

While many multivitamins can help build and support your immune system, there is limited scientific evidence to show whether the effects of nutritional supplements boosting immunity alone can protect you from the flu†. However, studies show nutritional changes affect the immune system. One Harvard Medical School publication recommends that if you have an imbalanced diet, as many Americans do, taking a daily multivitamin can help provide the body with the necessary nutrients†. Cooper Complete offers several scientifically grounded multivitamin options tailored to your needs and routine, specifically formulated to deliver the optimal amount of nutrients for optimal health†.

Vitamin D and Immune Health During Flu Season†

Vitamin D plays an important role in immune health, and low levels have been linked to seasonal wellness challenges†. In general, vitamin D plays a vital role in your immune system by strengthening the innate immune system, which is the part that can respond quickly to foreign invaders. Flu epidemics tend to flourish in the winter, when the population as a whole has dramatically lower vitamin D levels due to reduced sun exposure and impaired nutritional absorption.

Clinical research indicates that taking 30 mcg (1200 IU) daily during the colder months can significantly reduce the risk of developing seasonal flu by approximately 42 percent in school-aged children compared to a placebo†. Several cross-sectional studies have associated low vitamin D levels with an increased risk of infection, particularly upper respiratory infections and the flu†. Cooper Clinic recommends that adults take a minimum of 50 mcg (2,000 IU) of vitamin D3 each day to help support overall immune health during flu season and throughout the year†. While this recommended amount is found in all Cooper Complete multivitamins, Cooper Complete also offers individual D3 softgels to supplement your diet.

Vitamin C’s Role in Immune Support†

At the first sign of illness, many people reach for vitamin C supplements. Available in various forms and flavors, several studies have found that consistent consumption of vitamin C supplements may modestly reduce the symptoms and duration of the common cold. However, the notion that consuming additional vitamin C at the onset of illness will help is a myth.

Our bodies do not produce vitamin C on their own, and many Americans do not obtain the vitamin C they need solely through their diet. While vitamin C does not prevent the flu, this essential nutrient and powerful antioxidant is required for the proper development and function of many body parts, including bones, muscles and blood vessels.

Cooper Complete Original Multivitamin and Mineral formulations contain 500 mg of vitamin C, while Cooper Complete Basic One Multivitamin and Mineral formulations contain 150 mg.

In addition to taking the right supplements for you, practicing Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper’s 8 Steps to Get Cooperized will help lower your risk and susceptibility to getting sick. By exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy diet and weight and getting a proper amount of sleep, Cooper’s 8 Healthy Steps have been shown to bolster your immune system and prepare you for the fight this flu season.

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About the Author: Jill Turner is the President of Cooper Complete® Nutritional Supplements, where she oversees product development and customer experience. She enjoys writing about vitamins, supplements, and preventive health to help consumers make informed, science-backed decisions.