More to help your Cold

Since I still have friends that are fighting a tough cold, I thought I would step back and write a little more on the immune system. The nutrient of the day is Zinc.  Zinc is a mineral that if found primarily in foods like oysters, red meats, poultry and some other shell fish.  You can also get zinc from whole grains and legumes but it is not absorbed as easily because the phytates in those foods bind the zinc and make it less available.  These foods are still good sources but you have to make up for the bioavailability.  Coffee will decrease the absoprtion too so keep that in mind.

From an immune system standpoint, zinc has several roles. Instead of boring you with biochemistry that fascinates me I'll share the outcomes.  Multiple stuides suggest that Zinc probably, although not definitely, will reduce the symptoms and duration of a cold.  Most of the studies use lozenges taken every two hours. The catch is-- it only works if you start adding zinc within 48 hours of the onset of your symptoms.  But keep in mind that adding extra zinc before you have symptoms won't help you to prevent a cold. Some studies didn't produce these decreases in symptoms or length but overall in adults it probably works.

I will add that it also may be helpful if you have the flu. In elderly people adding zinc assisted in the cell mediated immune response but if you have had a flu shot, the zinc didn't really make a difference.

Just keep in mind that good nutrition and ensuring that you get a wide variety of vitamins and minerals is probably the most important.  One nutrient is not a quick fix.  You need all of the nutrients to be your healthiest.