It’s common for people to load up on vitamin C or zinc when they get the sniffles because … well, that’s what Mom said to do to combat a cold And we’re certainly not calling your mother a filthy liar. All we’re saying is that while vitamins can help immune system health, nothing will work miracles if you’re malnourished or severely dehydrated.
The truth is, taking in more vitamin C and zinc can be a part of the solution if they’re preventing deficiencies, but mega-dosing them won’t make your immune system impenetrable to pathogens.