Zinc is a mineral that is found in different natural sources, but is also taken as a supplement by many in the hopes of fighting colds. The mineral is used in the body to keep the immunte system running well, and some say that it can also help speed up a cold. Although zinc is naturally occuring in different foods, studies have shown that there is a chance that taking extra zinc can reduce the length of time someone has a cold by at least a day, and for that fact alone, zinc is worth looking into.
Most people reccomend taking zinc in the form of a pill, lozenge, or syrup within the first 24 hours of cold symptons or sooner for the best results. Some research has shown that taking extra zinc can stop the virus that causes colds named rhinovirus from spreading .
The downsides of taking zinc