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Kick the common cold 3xs faster
Feed a cold, starve a fever…
We’ve all heard it. But, is sitting at home eating chicken noodle soup all you can do to get over the common cold?
That could feel like torture considering the typically takes 7 to 10 days to run its course.
I don’t know about you, but that’s way too long to suffer through body aches, a runny nose and sinus congestion, not to mention a hacking cough.
Thankfully, according to scientific research, there’s something else you can do to increase your chances of getting well faster.
In fact, you could triple your recovery time…
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Increases recovery rate by three times
Scientists at the University of Helsinki looked at the results of three separate controlled trials to determine whether using zinc lozenges could help boost recovery from the common cold.
In the trials, patients suffering from a cold were given zinc lozenges, with a dose of zinc between 80 to 92 mg/day or a placebo.
Here’s what they found…
Using zinc acetate lozenges increased the rate of recovery from the common cold by three times. In fact, on the fifth day after beginning using the lozenges, 70 percent of the zinc lozenges patients had recovered compared with just 27 percent of the placebo patients.
The zinc lozenges were so effective that the researchers said, “Given the strong evidence of efficacy and the low risk of adverse effects, common cold patients may already be encouraged to try zinc acetate lozenges not exceeding 100 mg of elemental zinc per day for treating their colds.”
Finding the right lozenges
The researchers did however warn that many of the zinc lozenges on the market appear to have either zinc doses that are too low or may contain substances that bind zinc ions, such as citric acid, making them less effective.
The optimal dose in the study was 80 – 92 mg/day — and was free of citric acid.
Other things you can do to recover more quickly include:
- Stay hydrated – Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration.
- Get your rest – When you’re sick, the best thing you can do is to let your body get the rest it needs to heal.
- Add moisture to the air – A cool mist vaporizer or humidifier can add moisture to your home to soothe your nasal passages and help loosen congestion.
- Combat stuffiness – Over-the-counter saline nasal drops and sprays can help relieve that stuffiness and congestion. Also, consider the superfood enzyme that “dissolves” sinus pain and pressure.
- Have a spoonful of honey – This sweet treat can coat your throat and soothe a cough.
- Take a hot shower – Breathing in steam may moisten a scratchy throat and nose, as well as loosen your congestion.
- Take vitamin C – Studies have shown that taking at least one gram and even up to six to eight grams of vitamin C per day can help you get over that cold faster.
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To avoid catching a cold altogether, consider keeping your vitamin D levels up all year long. Just be sure you are taking the most effective kind…
Recent research found vitamin D3 had a modifying effect on the immune system that could fortify the body against viral and bacterial diseases. The same could not be said for vitamin D2.
Now one thing to note about the zinc study… The people in the study took amounts of zinc higher than the recommended daily allowance, which, in the US, is 11 mg/day for men and 8 mg/day for women. But according to the researchers, it’s highly unlikely that 80-92 mg/day of zinc for one to two weeks, starting very soon after the onset of the first cold symptoms, might lead to long-term adverse effects. None of the three analyzed zinc lozenge studies observed serious adverse effects of zinc.
Editor’s note: There are perfectly safe and natural ways to decrease your risk of blood clots including the 25-cent vitamin, the nutrient that acts as a natural blood thinner and the powerful herb that helps clear plaque. To discover these and other secrets of long-lived hearts, click here for Hushed Up Natural Heart Cures and Common Misconceptions of Popular Heart Treatments!
Sources:
- Zinc acetate lozenges may increase the recovery rate from the common cold by three-fold — University of Helsinki
- Larger doses of vitamin C may lead to a greater reduction in common cold duration — University of Helsinki
By Dr. Adria Schmedthorst
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