If you do not wish to leave this website, do not click on the links above. Sinus and nasal congestion. You know the feeling: scratchy throat, a few more sneezes than normal, and a weird tiredness that threatens to send you to bed before 10 p. The beginning of a cold is never fun, especially if you have lots of things to get done the next day, but could a natural supplement really be the key to keeping cold symptoms at bay?
Zinc is found naturally in the human body and helps with our immune system and our metabolism functioning. It also helps to heal wounds and is connected to our sense of smell and taste. Most of us get enough zinc through the foods we eat, but zinc supplements are easy to find at any drug or health store. Holistic medicine has long touted zinc supplementation as one of the best ways to cure a cold. Interestingly enough, a analysis of seven studies involving zinc and the common cold found that study participants who took zinc lozenges reduced the length of their colds by 33 percent.
What can we take from these reviews? In general, the scientific community recommends supporting immune health with an approach that includes a balanced and nutrient-rich diet, taking supplements—especially the elderly with a challenged nutritional status—and making optimized lifestyle choices.
Part of the reason why zinc showed positive results in those studies is because zinc is a great supplement in supporting your immune system. Zinc decreases the rate in which a virus can duplicate inside your body.
People with these conditions might be even more likely to have upset stomach, diarrhea, reflux or nausea from taking vitamins — especially ones that contain calcium, vitamin C or iron, which are more likely than others to irritate the stomach lining.
Rarely, vitamins and supplements can affect the way certain medications are absorbed or metabolized in the body. DO take vitamins with food. If you have a hard time eating first thing in the morning, try taking your vitamins in the evening, with dinner, instead. Lee points out. That could make heartburn or reflux even worse. DO try easy-to-digest formats. Tablets tend to be harder to digest due to the binding agent used to hold them together, Dr. Lee explains. Another indicator of too much zinc is experiencing flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, chills, cough and fatigue.
Are you experiencing nausea and vomiting? In one review of 17 different studies it was found that while taking zinc supplements can help reduce the duration of a common cold, too much of it can cause nausea and vomiting. Zinc plays a big role in your sense of taste.
With zinc deficiency , you can actually develop a condition called hypogeusia: a dysfunction in your ability to taste. Interestingly enough, on the opposite side, having too much zinc in your system can cause your taste to be altered. Zinc can be great for your immune system, but too much of it can actually suppress your immune system. Read about other supplements that can help you lower inflammation and boost your immune system if you want to help your body resist potential colds, flus and infections.
In one small study, 11 participants reduced their immune response after they ingested mg of zinc twice a day, for six weeks. Before taking zinc, check with your doctor for the recommended dose. According to The Mayo Clinic , the recommended dose for zinc supplements is:. Are you ready to add a zinc supplement to your life? People taking OTC ranitidine should stop taking the drug and talk with their healthcare provider about alternative options. Zinc is an important dietary nutrient that plays crucial roles throughout the entire body.
Taking in too much zinc can be harmful, however, and it may cause a range of symptoms, including nausea, diarrhea, and headaches. This toxicity can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and, when chronic, may also disrupt the balance of other chemicals in the body, including copper and iron. Many over-the-counter vitamins , nutrient supplements, and cold remedies contain zinc. Taking multiple supplements at the same time can put a person at risk of exceeding their recommended dietary allowance RDA of zinc.
People may also experience toxicity from zinc in the environment. Zinc is a metal that occurs naturally in small amounts in water, soil, and foods, but most forms of zinc enter the environment through human activities.
In this article, we look at zinc toxicity in more detail, including its symptoms, how it can happen, possible treatments, and when to see a doctor. Zinc toxicity can be either acute, leading to short term side effects, or chronic, resulting in long term issues. The symptoms of acute toxicity will appear soon after taking a high dose of zinc and can include:. If a person takes high levels of zinc over a long period, they can experience chronic zinc toxicity, which may lead to the following:.
People who work in metallurgy, such as welders, can develop a condition known as metal fume fever. This condition is acute and very short lived, and it occurs when someone breathes in too much zinc through dust or fumes.
It usually only lasts about 24—48 hours and can cause symptoms that include:. These symptoms occur within a few hours of acute exposure. Although this condition is usually reversible, doctors do not know the possible long term effects of breathing in zinc dust or fumes. Experts have not linked high zinc intake to cancer.
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