Newsletters: January-February-March 2010
The Common Cold
Natural Times January/February/March 2010
By Chris Terrell, Merchandising Manager
Staying well during the winter can be a challenge. More people get colds when the temperature drops because viruses are more active in colder, less humid environments. Some of the symptoms of a cold include head and nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, and sore throat. A cold is typically noticed 18 to 24 hours after the virus has entered the body. When people get sick they usually have a virus and mistakenly assume they need antibiotics in order to get better. Antibiotics are only good for bacterial infections and are ineffective against viral infections. There are many different products that are beneficial for the immune system, three of which are vitamin C, echinacea and the mineral zinc.
Vitamin C has been the topic of many different studies and there is conflicting evidence of whether taking vitamin C will lessen the chance of getting a cold. Some research has shown that vitamin C can reduce the chance of getting a cold by up to 50 percent, while other studies show no difference. There is, however, a large body of evidence that vitamin C will lessen the duration and symptoms of a cold. One study indicated that vitamin C could reduce the duration of a cold from seven to four days and lessen the severity of the symptoms.
Echinacea is another popular product that people take during the cold and flu season. There are nine different types of echinacea; the three that are used to assist the immune system are angustifolia, purpurea, and pallida. Since echinacea is a plant, the dependability of the product depends on the quality of the plant. The German Commission E recommends a product known as Echinaguard. The manufacturer of Echinaguard looks for certain levels of active compounds in the echinacea to make sure that customers are getting the best product.
Zinc is a common product that people take when they have the flu. Zinc gluconate lozenges are shown to be beneficial for shortening the duration of a cold. Zinc is very important in the immune system and people who are zinc deficient are more susceptible to getting a cold. Zinc is necessary for the development of natural killer cells and neutrophils, both of which are immune cells.
It is important to remember that the best way to avoid getting sick is to wash your hands frequently, get plenty of rest, and eat healthy foods including fresh fruits and vegetables.
Chris Terrell is currently the Merchandising Manager for New Leaf Market. In addition, he is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and pursuing a masters degree in sport nutrition and dietetics from Florida State University.
