Unless you're in Canada. Up there, it's "Zed" is for zinc. At any rate, I've been "researching" whether taking zinc for colds makes Mr. Cold go away any faster. Ever since a 1984 study that showed that zinc supplements kept people from getting as sick, there's been talk around our water cooler about zinc. According to Mayo Clinic out in Rochester, Minnesota, a recent analysis of several studies showed that zinc lozenges or syrup reduced the length of a cold by ONE day, especially when taken within 24 hours of the 1st signs & symptoms of a cold. Studi3es also showed that taking zinc regularly "might" reduce the number of colds each year, the number of missed school days, & the amount of antibiotics required in otherwise healthy children. Our friend, zinc, may be more effective when taken in lozenge or syrup form, which allows the substance to stay in the throat & come in contact with the rhinovirus. But the recent analysis stopped short of recommending zinc. NONE of the studies analyzed, according to Mayo, had enough participants to meet a high standard of proof. Mayo says for now, the safest course is to talk with your doc before considering the use of zinc to prevent or reduce the length of cold. My opinion, if we're only talking about getting rid of the cold 1 day shorter, why not stay home & mix up a good Tom & Jerry...the holiday drink named after ME! (JERRY Puffer)

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