Cheap and common supplement could cure colds two days quicker than normal, ... trends now
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A cheap and common supplement could shorten the run of your cold virus by up to two days, a new analysis suggests.
Scientists investigated previous data from eight trials involving more than 900 volunteers on whether zinc could alleviate cold symptoms.
The supplement, which is available from supermarkets and costs as little as $5 per bottle, has long been hailed as a 'natural' remedy for colds and coughs by health gurus on social media.
But for the first time, a gold-standard review by experts at the prestigious Cochrane Institute in the UK has given some credence to the supposed benefits.
The review concluded that zinc could shorten a cold by roughly two days, although the evidence supporting this finding was 'weak'.
A cheap and common supplement could help to battle a cold, a study suggests
The experts cautioned, however, that the capsules can also risk a range of side effects - including bowel problems, nausea and an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Zinc, a mineral found in foods like chickpeas, cashew nuts and some seafood, is essential for healthy DNA, building protein and bolstering the immune system.
Scientists have long suspected that it has infection-fighting benefits, as lab studies have shown it can stop viral cells replicating in the mouth and
