Zinc lozenges effectively prevent, reduce duration of common colds

Thursday, February 17, 2011 by: Jonathan Benson, staff writer
Tags: zinc, common cold, health news

(NaturalNews) A comprehensive review of more than a dozen studies has shown that common zinc lozenges and supplements are effective at reducing the duration of the common cold, particularly when taken within the first 24 hours of visible symptoms. Published in The Cochrane Library, the review adds to the large body of evidence proving that zinc is a vital mineral for maintaining optimal health.

Compared to patients who took a placebo, patients who took zinc upon first noticing cold symptoms reduced the overall length of their cold. And healthy people who supplemented with zinc on a regular basis were much less likely to ever catch a cold in the first place. In the studies, zinc use also reduced the number of sick days children took from school, as well as lowered overall antibiotic use.

"This review strengthens the evidence for zinc as a treatment for the common cold," said Meenu Singh, lead researcher for the study from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India.

Zinc is an important mineral for life that promotes proper cell division in the body, maintains proper sexual function, ensures that the body produces necessary enzymes, prevents the negative effects of aging, prompts healing within the body, supports eye function, and boosts prostate health, among other things (https://www.naturalnews.com/030157_raw_foods_...).

The best way to obtain high levels of zinc is to eat zinc-rich foods like pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, cashews, almonds, chia, hemp, sesame, sunflower, poppy, avocados, raspberries, apricots, and pomegranates.

Zinc supplements can be beneficial for boosting deficient levels, but extended use of some forms can lead to copper deficiency. So when taking them, be sure to maintain a healthy levels of both zinc and copper. And when using zinc lozenges, be sure to avoid those that contain artificial colors and sweeteners.

Sources for this story include:

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/02/16/zin...

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/cochrane/cl...