Contrary to popular belief, vitamin C and orange juice do not shorten the duration of a cold. Zinc, on the other hand, could halve its duration when taken quickly. Explanations.
As soon as it is cold and damp, a stuffy nose with sneezing, runny nose and tingling in the throat sign the return of the common cold. A viral infection that is one of the most common winter ailments.
Each year, an adult would have an average of 2.5 colds, while a child would have between 8 and 9 nasopharyngitis. Contrary to popular belief, neither the vitamin C contained in tablets nor in fruit (orange juice) can help you recover from a cold. Zinc, on the contrary, could reduce its duration by half.
Proven results
The effectiveness of zinc in case of colds was established by two pediatricians and their study had been published in the reference journal, the JAMA. According to them, the oral intake of zinc supplements (syrup, lozenges, ampoules, tablets, etc.) does not alleviate the severity of symptoms, but reduces the duration of the cold by half, when taken within 24 hours of appearance of the first symptoms.
To obtain this result, they analyzed data from 18 studies conducted on zinc supplementation in adults and children. The average duration of a cold was 8.5 days for those receiving a placebo compared to 4.5 days for those receiving for a week. The impact of zinc on the prevention of colds has not been studied.
Zinc in food
Zinc is a trace element, a mineral nutrient necessary for the life of the body. It stimulates white blood cells, which have the function of fighting microbes in our body. Zinc would allow the immune system to strengthen.
If you don’t want to take it in the form of medicine, you can also eat foods that contain it, such as shellfish, legumes, organ meats and wheat germ.
A few precautions
The effect of zinc on people with colds suffering from a chronic disease, asthma or immunodeficiency must however be the subject of further studies. It is also difficult to define a precise dosage.
It is therefore preferable not to exceed a daily dose of 40mg. “Normally it should be taken on an empty stomach for better assimilation, but people with sensitive stomachs can take it after a meal”.
What can a cold be confused with?
The main problem is that a cold can be mistaken at first for the flu. However, it is important to make the difference because the flu is very contagious and can be serious for certain vulnerable people (pregnant women, chronic diseases and the elderly).
The most striking difference between these two illnesses linked to 2 different viruses is the ability to perform daily tasks: with a cold this remains feasible, whereas in the case of the flu, the patient who was more or less well morning, is forced to go to bed during the day and can no longer do anything (more brutal character). Another element is that the flu occurs during epidemics.
When should you see a doctor?
You should see a doctor during the day if the cold is associated with high fever (over 38°5 C), severe ear pain, severe headaches or breathing problems.
It will also be necessary to consult a doctor in the following days if the cold does not yield after ten days, if otitis or sinusitis appear, or if there is blood in the nasal secretions on a regular basis.
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