Contrary to popular belief, vitamin C and orange juice do not help cure a cold. Zinc, on the other hand, halves its duration when taken quickly. Explanations.
Stuffed nose, sneezing, tingling in the throat… The common cold is one of the most frequent ailments of winter: each year, an adult is affected on average 2.5 times, while a child is a carrier between 8 and 9. time. Contrary to popular belief, neither vitamin C (kiwi, lemon, etc.) nor orange juice can help you cure a cold. Zinc, on the contrary, can reduce its duration by half.
Proven results since 2011
The effectiveness of zinc in colds was established in 2011 by two Indian pediatricians from the Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandìgarh. Their study was published in the JAMA medical journal. According to them, oral intake of zinc supplements (syrup, lozenges, ampoules, tablets …) does not alleviate the severity of symptoms, but halves the duration of the common cold, when taken within 24 hours of appearance of the first symptoms.
To obtain this result, they analyzed data from 18 studies of zinc supplementation in adults and children. The average duration of a cold was 8.5 days for people given a placebo versus 4.5 days for those given for a week.
Zinc in the diet
Zinc is a trace element, a mineral nutrient necessary for the life of the organism. It stimulates white blood cells, which have the function of fighting the microbes in our body. If you do not 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. “Zinc indeed allows the immune system to strengthen”, explains to West France Vanessa Bozec, doctor of pharmacy.
Some precautions
However, the effect of zinc on people with colds suffering from a chronic disease, asthma or immunodeficiency needs further study. It also remains 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 at the end of a meal”.
What can be confused with a cold?
The main problem is that a cold can be mistaken for the flu at first. However, it is important to differentiate because the flu is very contagious and can be serious for certain vulnerable people (pregnant women, chronic diseases and the elderly).
The main difference between these two viral diseases is the ability to be able to do daily chores: with the common cold this remains feasible, whereas in the event of the flu, the patient who was in good health in the morning, is forced to go to bed. during the day and can do nothing more (more brutal character). Another element is that influenza occurs during epidemics.
When to see a doctor
A doctor should be consulted during the day if the common cold is associated with a high fever (over 38 ° 5 C), severe ear pain, severe headache or respiratory problems.
You should also consult a doctor in the following days if the cold does not give way after ten days, if an ear infection or sinusitis appears, or if there is blood in the nasal secretions on a regular basis.
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