According to a review published in 'The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal', there may not be a cure for the common cold, and by taking zinc lozenges you could be able to shorten its' length by up to 42%.
Some people are sure these lozenges help keep their colds from going on, but sceptics argue that evidence for their use is lacking.
Investigators from the Department of Public Health at the University of Helsinki, Finland, conducted a review of studies to help clarify whether zinc can truly help clear up the common cold more quickly.
They looked at 13 trials
Five trials used zinc lozenges providing less than 75 mg of elemental zinc per day, and
Eight trials used a more powerful lozenge, which gave more than 75mg of zinc each day. Out of these eight, three of them used zinc acetate, while the other used it in different forms.
From the trials that used more than 75mg per day, seven out of the eight, seemed to show a significant reduction in the duration of a cold. This was in contract to the other trials using less than 75mg per day, where no change was seen.
Zinc acetate seemed to have the most profound effect on shortening the common cold, with a 42% reduction in the number of sick days. Other forms of lozenges also shortened the duration of the cold by 20%.
The taste of these lozenges is not to everyone's liking and some may develop nausea from them, but there have not been reports of long-term side effects. Zinc is found naturally in super foods such as bee pollen and wheatgrass, and while it may not be as much as 75mg, it will certainly help with your daily requirement.
If you feel a cold coming on, here are somethings you can do keep yourself healthy:
Your insides like moisture. Viruses like the ones that cause the common cold need dry environments. Dry air also takes a toll on the mucous membranes, worsening nasal congestion and a sore throat. Use a vaporizer or humidifier to make air moist, but make sure to clean it regularly and use fresh water each day. Also, drink adequate fluids to breathe easier and prevent dehydration.0
Some people are sure these lozenges help keep their colds from going on, but sceptics argue that evidence for their use is lacking.
Investigators from the Department of Public Health at the University of Helsinki, Finland, conducted a review of studies to help clarify whether zinc can truly help clear up the common cold more quickly.
They looked at 13 trials
Five trials used zinc lozenges providing less than 75 mg of elemental zinc per day, and
Eight trials used a more powerful lozenge, which gave more than 75mg of zinc each day. Out of these eight, three of them used zinc acetate, while the other used it in different forms.
From the trials that used more than 75mg per day, seven out of the eight, seemed to show a significant reduction in the duration of a cold. This was in contract to the other trials using less than 75mg per day, where no change was seen.
Zinc acetate seemed to have the most profound effect on shortening the common cold, with a 42% reduction in the number of sick days. Other forms of lozenges also shortened the duration of the cold by 20%.
The taste of these lozenges is not to everyone's liking and some may develop nausea from them, but there have not been reports of long-term side effects. Zinc is found naturally in super foods such as bee pollen and wheatgrass, and while it may not be as much as 75mg, it will certainly help with your daily requirement.
If you feel a cold coming on, here are somethings you can do keep yourself healthy:
Your insides like moisture. Viruses like the ones that cause the common cold need dry environments. Dry air also takes a toll on the mucous membranes, worsening nasal congestion and a sore throat. Use a vaporizer or humidifier to make air moist, but make sure to clean it regularly and use fresh water each day. Also, drink adequate fluids to breathe easier and prevent dehydration.0
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