Why do we catch a cold?
People, who have a weak immune system, are prone to catching various viruses and bacteria. Usually, the body is capable of dealing with various intruders. However, poor lifestyle, nutrition, and the lack of essential nutrients such as zinc or magnesium open the gates for microorganisms.
Do we have a way how to strengthen our immune system?
Yes, there are plenty of ways to keep the immune system ready to fight intruders. One of the helpers is the mineral zinc which stimulates the immune system.
Zinc is a mineral that plays a vital role in helping the body fight colds and various intruders such as viruses. Zinc is an antioxidant that participates in synthesizing RNA, DNA, and proteins. Additionally, zinc activates hundreds of enzymes and takes part in the synthesis of immunoglobulins. In this way, mineral stimulates the immune system.
Our immune system can deal with most invaders. There is one condition. The body must have all the needed nutrients that ensure that all systems function harmoniously. The immune system is a perfect defense mechanism.
Do leading websites promote zinc as the help fight the cold?
Let’s check them and later on compare them with other sources that count on zinc as one of the helpful nutrients.
The first table
| 1 | Dec 6, 2022, There is no guarantee that zinc will help you feel better faster. | Mayo Clinic |
| 2 | Feb 10, 2020, There’s no real cure, but studies from the last several years show that some supplements containing zinc can help shorten the duration of… | NPR |
| 3 | Apr 6, 2022, Zinc has become a popular treatment for the common cold | WebMD |
| 4 | Sep 27, 2021, There’s currently no evidence showing that supplemental zinc will keep you from catching a cold. | Consumerreports.org |
| 5 | Feb 1, 2022, There appears to be no significant harm from taking zinc in safe amounts at the onset of cold symptoms | Health. Harvard.edu |
| 6 | Feb 17, 2011, Protect yourself from the damage of chronic inflammation. … Not exactly a ringing endorsement. Zinc isn’t something to mess around with. | Health.Harvard.edu |
| 7 | Nov 8, 2021 — On the whole, studies looking at the use of zinc for colds have been of poor quality. There is no reliable evidence that taking zinc prevents | MedicalNewsToday |
| 8 | 2011 Nov, A new meta-analysis shows that zinc supplementation can reduce the duration and severity of a cold, if it’s started early on. | NCBI |
| 9 | 2015 Apr 30, Zinc administered within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms reduces the duration of common cold symptoms in healthy people | NCBI |
| 10 | Jun 4, 2017 — Researchers in a new study say high doses of zinc significantly helped people with cold symptoms. | HealthLine |
As you see, the time when an article was posted and the statements regarding zinc efficiency differ.
For example, May Clinic, one of the best hospitals, states that zinc does not help fast enough. However, it does not state that mineral does not help at all.
If you look at number 3, WebMD website, you will see that the author describes zinc as the mineral that keeps the immune system strong. What do you need more of that?
If the immune system is robust, it will kick to the teeth of all intruders. The cold will be a nuisance and will pass easily.
Do these leading websites approve zinc for cold?
Yes, these websites show the benefits of zinc. O course, they do not state directly that zinc is an essential mineral that helps the immune system. However, it is excellent to recognize that minerals help deal with the cold.
What do offer other doctors regarding the usage of zinc for colds?
There are plenty of doctors who have scientific proof from their practice and education that zinc is good to fight cold.
Let’s check what prominent medical figures say about the benefits of zinc.
What do I mean regarding prominent figures? These doctors got lifelong practice and did research but for some reason, the media does not like them.
Anyway, doctors are doctors and success in helping patients talks for itself.
Let’s check them.
The second table
| 1. | Dr.J.Mercola | The production and activity of numerous important immune cells are dependent on zinc. Dr. J.Mercola, Upgrade Your Immunity with Herbs, 43 |
| 2. | Dr.C.Dean | Research also shows zinc is essential to proper immune function. And, in order to fight off any illness, including the common cold, the immune system must be running at an optimal level. |
| 3. | Research gate | Zinc protects from the replication of viruses. The common cold occurs when rhinoviruses attack people. |
| 4. | Chris Masterjohn, PhD | Zinc definitely fights colds |
| 5. | ScienceDirect | Treatment with high doses of zinc |
| 6. | Reddit.com | Survey about using zinc for cold |
| 7. | Dr.Zelenko | Zinc for viruses |
| 8. | Keck Medicine of USC | Zinc helps with common cold |
| 9. | Health | …I’d still recommend it to my patients at the first sign of cold symptoms.” |
| 10. | Time | According to a new meta-analysis of three studies, zinc lozenges may triple the rate of recovery from the common cold. |
In the first table, you see that these websites do not state directly that zinc helps with the common cold.
There is an expression such as zinc does not help heal faster, or there is no harm when people take zinc.
It is a nice suggestion and not directly stating that zinc helps with the common cold.
How does the second table differ from the first table?
The second table shows direct statements from doctors who say zinc helps deal with the common cold. There is no fooling around but showing facts and telling people that zinc is beneficial for people who have a common cold.
What is essential is that doctors say to take zinc in the early stages. If you feel a scratchy throat and your nose is running, do not wait, take a zinc supplement.
There is plenty of facts in the second table that show zinc benefits for common cold.
What is the common cold?
Rhinoviruses cause a common cold that catches millions of people in the USA. Sneezing, scratchy throat, and running nose are usual cold symptoms.
Of course, nobody likes to have a red nose or constantly sneeze, spreading viruses around. People with weak immune systems are prone to catch a common cold.
Interestingly, there is not one virus that causes the common cold but hundreds of them. This company tries to attack our bodies, and if we are not strong enough, we can have the luxury of staying in bed for a while or use boxes of Kleenex if we do not have a temperature.
Anyway, who likes to be with a running nose or scratchy throat?
Knowing that this simple mineral can help reduce or eliminate these nasty symptoms, we can stop viruses at the beginning of their activities.
How does zinc help get rid of these viruses?
Zinc helps stop viruses from multiplying in the body. It means that we will have fewer and fewer of these creatures that do not bring us any good.
Additionally, zinc prevents from viruses that want to lodge onto mucous membranes such as the nose and throat. In this way, symptoms of common cold are relieved and may disappear.
Another important function of zinc is to help the immune system. We need a strong immune system to fight various illnesses.
Zinc helps create and activate white blood cells that fight intruders.
Additional zinc benefits to the body
- Zinc is mighty antioxidant fighting free radicals
- Zinc activates more as 200 enzyme systems
- Zinc stimulates immunoglobulins that fight against infections
- Zinc influences fat metabolism and protects the liver from fatty dystrophia
- Zinc plays part in pituitary gland activity
- Zinc improves eyesight and vascular system
- Zinc keeps normal sugar concentration in the blood
- Zinc helps with insulin production
- Zinc helps with wound healing
- Zinc participates in the production of sperm
- Zinc participates in metabolism of alcohol
- Zinc helps with aging as powerful antioxidant
Wrapping up
Zinc is a crucial mineral that helps to deal with the common cold. Zinc participates in the production of immunoglobulins that fight infections. Besides it, zinc helps activate and create cytokines, the immune system’s main messengers.
If you do not like running nose, constant sneezing, hate scratchy throat, and want avoid spreading viruses around you, take mineral zinc that offers benefits without side effects.
An update
This video was a two years ago but shows many positive aspects of zinc and how it fights with infections and viruses.