After popping vitamin C, Zinc tablets and drinking lots of orange juice in an attempt to ward off a cold (thanks to a co-worker who comes in to work sharing her colds and flu), it turns out that going outside for a bit of sun may be a better bet.
A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicates that Vitamin D is more effective in preventing colds and flu. The study
shows that people with the lowest vitamin D levels report having significantly more cases of cold and flu than those with higher levels. Vitamin D is produced by the body in response to sunlight and is also found in fortified foods such as milk.
Bottom line: drink your milk or go out and enjoy the sunshine to protect your bones and ward off a cold.
Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to Colds By Jennifer Warner, Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD