Treatment

The following are some food and fluid recommendations. Most will not cure a cold but may help a person deal better with the symptoms:

• Drinking plenty of fluids and getting lots of rest when needed is still the best bit of advice to ease the discomforts of the common cold. Water is the best fluid and helps lubricate the mucous membranes. (There is no evidence that drinking milk will increase or worsen mucus, although milk is a food and should not serve as fluid replacement.)
• Chicken soup does indeed help congestion and body aches. The hot steam from the soup may be its chief advantage, although laboratory studies have actually reported that ingredients in the soup may have anti-inflammatory effects. In fact, any hot beverage may have similar soothing effects from steam. Ginger tea, fruit juice, and hot tea with honey and lemon may all be helpful.
• Spicy foods that contain hot peppers or horseradish may help clear sinuses.
• Foods rich in vitamins A and C are always recommended and may be helpful during a respiratory infection. They include oranges, kiwi, and tomatoes for C and sweet potatoes, spinach, and broccoli for A.

Vitamins

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Different studies have found that large doses of vitamin C reduce the duration of a cold by a range of 5 - 50%. Some precautions against taking high doses of vitamin C include the following:

• High doses of vitamin C may cause headaches and intestinal and urinary problems and even kidney stones.
• Because ascorbic acid increases iron absorption, people with certain blood disorders, such as hemochromatosis, thalassemia, or sideroblastic anemia, should particularly avoid high doses.
• Large doses can also interfere with anticoagulant medications, blood tests used in diabetes, and stool tests.
• Vitamin E or multivitamin supplements do not appear to be helpful in reducing symptoms of the cold.

Zinc