Something to 'zinc' about during cold season

I never liked echinacea, but elderberry extract really helps when I am starting to get a cold. Do you know of any studies on it? I've never tried the zinc lozenges but my husband has used them and gotten good results.

Just don't eat too many zinc lozenges............

[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_toxicity]Zinc toxicity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

For the Health of It staff has known this for years, as many other health food industry people. Why did it take this long for the gov't to buy in to what they have known?

Thanks Skunky. I zinc I shall keep this in mind.:wave:

Pumpkin seeds pack a large dose of Zinc.

So Zinc yay and other heavy metals nay?

I've found my addiction to oranges this flu season has kept me in tip top shape.

Zinc is a mineral.

Zinc is a mineral.

Love ya, mean it! :wub::wave:

Zinc - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_12_element]Group 12 element - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metals]Heavy metal (chemistry) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

Zinc is an [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micronutrient"]essential mineral[/ame] of "exceptional biologic and public health importance".[1] [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_deficiency"]Zinc deficiency[/ame] affects about two billion people in the developing world and is associated with many diseases.[2] In children it causes growth retardation, delayed sexual maturation, infection susceptibility, and diarrhea, contributing to the death of about 800,000 children worldwide per year.[1] [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzymes"]Enzymes[/ame] with a zinc atom in the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosthetic_groups"]reactive center[/ame] are widespread in biochemistry, such as [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_dehydrogenase"]alcohol dehydrogenase[/ame] in humans. Consumption of excess zinc can cause [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ataxia"]ataxia[/ame], [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethargy"]lethargy[/ame] and [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_deficiency"]copper deficiency[/ame].

So its an essential mineral and a heavy metal?

Y'all have gone all wikiwonky. :blink:

So its an essential mineral and a heavy metal?

Apparently, I'll stick with my Vitamin C. :wave:

Some googling found this simplified explanation for you, Bobby:

"A metal is an element found on the left side of the periodic table.[left of the zig-zag line separating the metals and nonmetals]
A mineral is a compound or an ore, how the metal is found in nature. Most metals (exceptions are gold, silver, copper) are found as compounds because they are active."

Like many natural substances, the right amount is essential to the body, too much has adverse effects.

I suppose you are all familiar with the Zicam fiasco. Someone I know wrote a book about losing her sense of smell after using Zicam. I used to swear by the stuff - but admit that sucking on zinc lozenges and snorting zinc gel used to cause temporary taste loss.

I think I will stick with a few pumpkin seeds.

I suppose you are all familiar with the Zicam fiasco. Someone I know wrote a book about losing her sense of smell after using Zicam. I used to swear by the stuff - but admit that sucking on zinc lozenges and snorting zinc gel used to cause temporary taste loss.

Z.I.C.A.M.. The C.A.M. stands for complementary alternative medicine. Stay away from it. The Z. I. stands for zinc. It's an essential mineral. It's also toxic. So is water. You shouldn't snort zinc, and you shouldn't snort water, but try living the rest of your life without either.

For the Health of It staff has known this for years, as many other health food industry people. Why did it take this long for the gov't to buy in to what they have known?

Like many people, the staff there may have suspected that zinc had a benefit, however that was based on anecdotal evidence (the weakest possible evidence, essentially testimonials) or studies much smaller than the one I have cited. I suspect echinacea is still readily peddled as an effective cold remedy at most health food stores even though there are no good studies to support the practice.

If there was something simple like old remedies, to cure the common cold, why wouldn't there be more testing long ago to help find cures? Why do you think the gov't only recently did a study on zinc?

If there was something simple like old remedies, to cure the common cold, why wouldn't there be more testing long ago to help find cures? Why do you think the gov't only recently did a study on zinc?

Because people were losing their sense of smell and taste abusing zinc based products. :roll: