Q&A : ADVICE FROM EXPERTS LESS-THAN-TASTY ZINC LOZENGES ATTACK COLD SYMPTOMS.A recent study published in an internal medicine journal found that cold sufferers who sucked on zinc lozenges felt better 42 percent sooner than those who took a placebo. And with cold season in full swing, Robert Kay - a registered dietitian registered dietitian, n See dietitian, registered. who holds a doctoral degree in nutrition science, and is director of nutrition research at Leiner Health Products Leiner Health Products is a company based in Carson, California, and is one of America's largest manufacturers of vitamins, minerals, herbal nutritional supplements, and generic medications. in Carson - shared his insights on the lozenges. What are zinc lozenges? They're tablets that contain the mineral zinc, which influences a variety of bodily functions, including the immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. . How do lozenges affect cold symptoms? Doses of zinc can relieve sore throats, nasal congestion nasal congestion ENT Difficulty in nasal breathing, due to an ↑ vascular thickness of nasal mucosa. See Nasal stuffiness. and drainage, coughing and headaches. But zinc has no effect on fevers, muscle aches, scratchy throats or sneezing To verbally tell somebody about a new and interesting Web site. See viral marketing. . Although zinc intake won't guarantee anyone a winter free of colds, regular doses of the mineral significantly can help ward off infectious ailments such as the common cold. Are there any side effects Side effects Effects of a proposed project on other parts of the firm. ? Yes. The lozenges aren't exactly tasty and some patients in the study experienced nausea. In addition to influencing colds in some individuals, what are some other benefits of zinc? Zinc is critical for the development of hair and nails, the body's ability to heal wounds and the maturation of the reproductive system reproductive system, in animals, the anatomical organs concerned with production of offspring. In humans and other mammals the female reproductive system produces the female reproductive cells (the eggs, or ova) and contains an organ in which development of the fetus , especially among males. Who benefits the most from lozenges? Someone who is not getting enough zinc in their diet. Where are lozenges available? At most drug stores. Some lozenges are similar to a hard piece of candy. Others resemble a chewable vitamin. We suggest about one tablet a day for a healthy individual, and up to 10 tablets per day for someone who has a cold. A bottle or bag of tablets can cost between $5 and $25. Will foods rich in zinc do the job? Yes. Most people are depleted of zinc. Oysters, red meat, pork, lamb and whole grains contain varying amounts of zinc. |
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