The common cold "germ" is a virus - and in around 75% of cases it is specifically the rhinovirus. I mention this because there are still many doctors out there who will give a patient with a nasty cold an antibiotic. I think doctors sometimes do this just to get whiny patients out of the office.
There is no antibiotic - NONE - that kills a cold virus. All doctors know this. Only your body's immune system can kill the rhinovirus (and all other cold viruses).
Many adults have such a strong immune system that they catch a cold maybe once every 3 years or so. Other adults seem to catch a cold a couple of times a year. The two factors that determine how often you catch a cold:
- how frequently - and for how long - you're exposed to the cold virus
- how strong your immune system is when you're exposed
The immune system is very vulnerable to both viral and bacterial infections when your blood sugars run on the high side. I'm not saying you need to be a full-blown diabetic to be vulnerable - just a bit on the high side in terms of blood sugar is a problem. Here's how that works.
It's been known for decades that blood sugar (glucose) depresses the immune system. One of the issues involves vitamin C. In order for white blood cells of the immune system to phagocytize ("gobble up") bacteria and viruses to destroy them, they must have at least 500 times the concentration of vitamin C inside their cells as outside their cells.
In other words, white blood cells have to accumulate vitamin C. Now, your body can't manufacture vitamin C at all - you have to get it from foods or supplements. So vitamin C floats around in your body waiting to be accumulated. However, vitamin C and glucose (blood sugar) are very similar looking molecules, and they compete with each other to get inside cells.
If you have a somewhat high sugar level, vitamin C will have a hard time getting inside your white blood cells. And when vitamin C can't get into white blood cells at the recommended concentration, it negatively affects what's called the "phagocytic index." This index determines how FAST white blood cells can "gobble up" viruses and bacteria (and even cancer cells).
What are normal blood sugar ranges?
- morning - before breakfast: 80-120
- before meals: 80-120
- 2 hours after meals: 160 or less
- at bedtime: 100 to 140
A blood sugar value of 120 reduces the phagocytic index by 75%. Not good. So you see, you can just slaughter your phagocytic index when you're within even normal blood sugar ranges if you keep them in the high normal range and/or higher throughout the day and into the night.
Don't have a clue what your blood sugar level is? That means you don't see your doctor regularly. But not to worry - just head to some discount store and pick up your own glucose monitor. They're dirt cheap, easy to use, and there's really no excuse not to have one on hand. If you think only diabetics need one of these gadgets, think again. Every adult should own a bathroom scale, blood pressure cuff, and glucose monitor - and use all three at least once a month.
When trying to battle a cold, then, two things are obvious. First, stay very far away from ANYTHING with refined sugar in it. You want your blood sugar levels as LOW as possible while the cold virus is on a rampage in your body. Beware of "fruit juices" that tend to run very high in sugar - drink plenty of water instead. Because we all feel "dragged" with a cold, we tend to eat sugary foods both for quick energy and as comfort foods. DON'T DO IT if your goal is to defeat your cold quickly.
Second, by all means grab a bottle of vitamin C supplements (1000 mg) and pop one every 3-4 hours for a couple of days. Your white blood cells will accumulate vitamin C as long as your sugar levels are reasonably low and it's not in a hopeless competition with blood sugar to get into cells.
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