Is it really okay to use Zinc for colds? (Zinc for Colds)

A stuffy nose, a runny nose, and a feeling of being unwell... It's really annoying when you catch a cold, isn't it? We always wish we could do something to get better faster at this time. Some people say that "taking zinc will make a cold go away faster." You may have heard this too. So today, let's take a look at this from a medical perspective and see if there's any truth to this story.

Let's first see, what is Zinc?

Simply put, Zinc is an essential mineral that is found in almost every cell in our body and is essential for our survival. It's like engine oil in a car. One of its main functions is to strengthen our body's immune system and help it fight diseases, especially infections. Not only that, Zinc also helps repair tissue when the body is injured.

When it comes to colds, zinc is believed to reduce the ability of the cold-causing virus to attach to and grow in the delicate membranes inside our noses. This means that zinc can slow down the virus's journey to some extent.

Although we can take this nutrient called Zinc in pill form, it is naturally present in many foods.

• Seafood: like oysters, shrimp, and crab.
• Red meat: like beef and goat meat.
• Nuts and seeds: Like cashews, pumpkin seeds, peanuts.
• Grains and legumes: like chickpeas, green beans, and lentils.
• Dairy and dairy products: milk, cheese, yogurt.

So, does zinc really work for colds?

This is the most important question. The results of the research on this are really mixed.

Some new research shows that taking zinc (as a lozenge) after the onset of cold symptoms can shorten the duration of the illness by about a day or a day and a half . That means a cold that could have lasted five days could be reduced to about four days.

But, it's important to look at the other side of the coin. Several other large studies have shown that taking zinc has no effect on colds. And there are similarly mixed results on whether zinc helps prevent colds.

So you see, right? There is still no consensus, or even a single opinion, in the medical world about this. Therefore, it is not possible to give a 100% guarantee that "taking Zinc will cure a cold."

Is it safe to use Zinc? Are there any risks?

This is a very important issue. You need to think about safety before doing anything.

Generally, taking zinc in the amount recommended by a doctor for a short period of time (for example, for a few days with a cold) is not dangerous. However, some people may experience stomach upset, nausea, and vomiting .

However, it is not good to use high doses of Zinc for a long time (more than 6 weeks) . Doing so can interfere with the body's absorption of the mineral copper, leading to a copper deficiency . This can lead to a number of other health problems.

Special warning about Zinc Nasal Spray!

This is something you should definitely know. You may have seen some nasal sprays on the market that contain zinc. These are extremely dangerous to use.

Research has found that these Zinc sprays cause animals to lose their sense of smell. Also, many people who have used these have reported cases of complete or partial loss of their sense of smell (anosmia) . Imagine, what if you could not smell food or flowers for the rest of your life.

To make it easier to understand, let's look at this in a table.