Zinc may be a popular over-the-counter supplement to reduce the severity and duration of common colds, but according to Harvard Health, the benefits may be modest at best. In a recent study published in BMJ Open, researchers examined data from 28 different studies and found that the effects of zinc ranged from minor to none at all. The bright side: When taken in safe amounts, zinc doesn't appear to cause any harm — good news for those who swear by it.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.