If you wish to eliminate common cold symptoms fast, you might be disappointed to learn that there are more than 200 viruses that can cause common cold symptoms and now there’s not any anti-viral or other medication that will cure your symptoms. Opinions concerning zinc and vitamin C common cold treatments vary.

Research

Some studies support their use, while others conclude they are ineffective. Most in the news, these days, is a zinc nasal gels and zinc lozenges, which decrease the duration of symptoms in certain people. For many years, vitamin C common cold treatments were all the rage. Some experts say that you could get a lot of vitamin C and an excessive amount of zinc. Others state that vitamin supplementation is unnecessary.

Those people who are pro-supplementation say they are interested in optimum good health and those against supplementation are just interested in health that’s marginally better than being malnourished. The facts, which can’t be disputed, are that both zinc and vitamin C common cold remedies may help in eliminating common cold symptoms.

Remember

Both are essential for human health. Both are important for proper immune system function. Both have been demonstrated in clinical trials to decrease duration of cold symptoms. Both have been proven to decrease the amount of colds that a individual experiences per year. The question and discussion concerns the suitable amount. The U.S. recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin C is 60-95 mg every day.

However, if you’re interested in preventing or eliminating common cold symptoms, vitamin C intake might have to be higher. A recently concluded study, five year study of 439 participants at a village in Akita, Japan, concluded that in people who received 500 mg each day of vitamin C, common cold frequency was significantly decreased. The Nobel prize-winning biochemist Linus Carl Pauling advocated using 6000 to 18000 mg each day, but this recommendation is deemed unorthodox by traditional medicine.

Be aware

Mega doses of vitamin C may lead to diarrhea and anyone who’s starting a vitamin C routine should note if symptoms of diarrhea appear and decrease dosages accordingly.

An overabundance of zinc from the diet, for long periods of time, can inhibit the body’s ability to absorb iron and copper, which could result in anemia. Too little zinc in the diet may result in hair loss, skin lesions and diarrhea. If the zinc deficiency is permitted to continue, death can result.

A lack of vitamin C may result in muscle fatigue, bleeding gums, low disease resistance, loss of desire and nosebleeds, among other things. Vitamin C common cold treatments aren’t believed to have any significant side effects, besides diarrhea, if daily levels are much greater than the individual needs.

Final note

Most instances of zinc overdose have occurred in children and dogs which consumed lots of US pennies minted after 1982. Instead of copper, US pennies minted after this date are composed mainly of zinc. There are numerous herbs and other plant products which might help you to get rid of common cold symptoms. Herbalists still encourage the use of Echinacea, both for preventing and treating a cold. Some studies suggest that Echinacea may be toxic to the liver, if taken over an elongated time period. Andrographis paniculata, green tea, piperine, olive oil, and garlic all have clinical trials supporting their safety and efficacy at boosting the immune system, potentially reducing the frequency of colds and other viruses.