Thursday, February 17, 2011

Zinc may help fight the common cold afterall!

A new review of previous studies on the effectiveness of zinc has been released. The review was performed by the Cochrane Collaboration. The most important part of this review, in their own words, is that "zinc supplementation for at least five months reduces incidence, school absenteeism and prescription of antibiotics for children with the common cold."

In addition to zinc, taking vitamins such as Vitamin C and Vitamin D have been shown to help fight the common cold. Various supplements, such as echinacea and probiotics, can help keep you healthy as well. Some of these will have side effects if taken inappropriately, so make sure to do your homework and talk to your doctor before starting any regiment of vitamins or supplements.

Still, there are some basic strategies that must be followed to ensure your immune system is running efficiently. First, be sure to get consistant sleep. There are some studies that say you need 8 hours of sleep, others state only 6 hours are needed. The important aspect of sleep is getting to bed at roughly the same time and getting up at the same time...day in and day out! Also, diet plays a crucial role in immunity. Make sure to eat fresh foods, particularly fruits and dark green veggies. Stay away from processed and fast foods. These foods will simply stress your immune system, making you more susceptible to viruses. Instead, try to eat lean meats and fresh-water fish. As always, make sure to drink plenty of water!

With flu-season still upon us, be sure to wash your hands frequently and cover your mouth when coughing! These are just a few tips for staying healthy through the cold winter months!

If you would like more information about the zinc review, please follow this link: www.healinghandsofskokie.com/zinc-for-common-cold.html.

If you have any further questions about how to keep yourself healthy this year, please call our office at (847) 673-6600 or visit us on the web at www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com.

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