Do you really believe that citrus fruits, if taken regularly, prevent colds thanks to the vitamin C they contain? Come and find out more!
Nowadays, the false belief that citrus fruits, if taken regularly, would prevent this type of ailments, is increasingly widespread, especially online. Their secret lies in the high concentration of vitamin C, which performs an effective preventive action against colds.
To find out more and find out the truth about a controversial issue, our ambassador Carla Medda of The Cotton Tower has decided to scour the internet in search of the origin of this false myth. From his numerous researches it emerged that there are many studies published online on the subject, with controversial outcomes. A first source, dating back to the 1970s, helps us to explain the very origins of the false myth; this is the book published by the Nobel laureate Linus Pauling, in which the miraculous properties of vitamin C in preventing colds are exposed.
On the other hand, according to the results of a more recent research, dated 2007, vitamin C would not help prevent colds in individuals not subjected to stress, who follow an adequate diet; in people subject to stress as well as in athletes, on the other hand, taking vitamin C would help prevent colds by 50%.
To shed light on the debated false myth and discover the truth, our ambassador Carla Medda decided to consult the opinion of an expert and rely on his clarifying explanation. Thus, she turned to Dr. Michelangelo Giampietro, a surgeon specializing in sports medicine and food science, who confirmed how the theory of citrus fruits is reduced to a mere metropolitan legend with no foundations.
According to the expert, in fact, there is currently no scientific evidence that can prove the preventive and / or therapeutic effect of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on colds and flu.
According to the doctor, however, it can undoubtedly be argued that a correct, balanced and varied diet and regular physical activity provide valid support in the prevention of numerous pathologies. Are you curious to know more? Click here to read the expert's detailed answer and understand the reasons that dispel the false myth.
