A Little Heavy Metal is Good For You

Zinc Supplements Lessen Severity, Duration Of Common Cold

A new systematic review that pooled data from 15 trials concluded that taking zinc supplements in syrup, lozenge or tablet form within a day of symptoms starting can reduce their severity and shorten the length of illness.

 Zinc is, of course, an essential element, and it should be no surprise that it has some value as a medicine in reasonable doses.  Georgia swears by Zicam, a zinc based nasal spray reputed to shorten or even abort colds, but I'm not convinced.  It also has the occasional bad side effect of destroying your sense of smell, perhaps permanently.

But generally speaking, a little heavy metal won't hurt you...



...much.