Covid-19 & Health Update: Does Zinc Really Work for Colds?

RVAchironeuro • November 28, 2021

Hello everyone:

I hope that you all have had an excellent Thanksgiving holiday. One thing that I am truly grateful for is information that helps me to live an optimal life, and I am also thankful that I can share this data so that you and your loved ones can also be your best. This especially applies during this pandemic. In case you ever wondered if there is any science behind using zinc as a part of your anti-viral protocols, the answer is a loud yes!

“A   new study   published in   BMJ Open   adds to the evidence that   zinc   is effective against viral   respiratory infections , such as colds. Use of zinc was also associated with an 87% lower risk of developing moderately severe symptoms (incidence rate ratio, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04 – 0.38) and a 28% lower risk of developing milder symptoms.”

Bottom Line:

The careful use of zinc can assist your health and immune system in significant ways. It should be noted that zinc gels and nasal sprays have resulted in the loss of the sense of smell and that in some cases it was permanent. The article also notes that some people experience stomach/GI upset with zinc, and I have seen this also.

Often when a person has a gastro-intestinal reaction to zinc it can be because they are low in stomach acid. It is a type of loop problem: if you are low in zinc, you cannot make adequate stomach acid, and if you are low in stomach acid it is very difficult to absorb zinc. In other words, sometimes what looks like an adverse event is actually the uncovering of another problem.

What I have seen help this is to take betaine hydrochloride supplements with food and with zinc capsules, or to take a diluted tablespoon of apple cider vinegar if your stomach gets upset after taking zinc. The form of zinc that is the most well tolerated is called zinc glycinate, and I mostly recommend taking 20 to 30 mg. of zinc no more than twice a day. The risk for adverse events is low, but you should know about them. Often, after a while of taking zinc, I have seen a person’s digestive function improve so that they no longer need either the zinc or the betaine hydrochloride.

PS: If you take betaine hydrochloride (always with food) and experience any upset, stop taking it and take an antacid like TUMS or Rolaids and you should be fine in a short time and stop taking the betaine hydrochloride. Also, recall that zinc is not a primary care treatment nor a stand-alone treatment for any viral infection, but it is an essential part of our biochemistry needed for optimal immune function.

By Mark Smith March 23, 2026
Health News Update: How To Fight Inflammation and Chronic Disease 3.23.26 Hello again everyone: You might wonder why I keep focusing on food…so here are some of the reasons: food choices are the leading cause of death in the U.S. and spreading around the world. Poor food choices lead to inflammation which slowly destroy health. It is that simple, plain, and clear and backed by research. The next question: how do we fight back? Introduction The positive impact of food on health was postulated by the ancient Hippocrates, father of modern medicine with his famous quote: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” [1]. In the 21st century, scientists have focused on the effect of nutritional habits in diseases. Nowadays, it is well documented that food plays a noteworthy role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases namely cardiovascular diseases (CVD), metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus type II, and cancer [2–5], as it correlates with others with the lipid pattern, the blood pressure, and the endothelial function. The scientists examine the effect of nutritional habits on disease emergence and progression in both individual nutrient intake and dietary patterns models. Worldwide, two dietary patterns are usually compared—the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the Western diet (WD) [3,6]. The Mediterranean diet reflects the food culture of most Mediterranean countries based on olive oil consumption, seasonal fresh vegetables, cereals, and plants in balance with low consumption of meat [7]. The Western diet, on the contrary, is dominated by high-fat dairy products processed and red meat [8]. However, discordance in the different MD patterns and consumed food doses had been recognized. Without any doubt, those discrepancies could confine and restrict our knowledge on the health benefit mechanisms of the MD [9]. Due to the above, the medical community along with nutritionists and dieticians take a keen interest in MD and its traits [7]. https://www.academia.edu/45378994/biomedicines_Mediterranean_Diet_as_a_Tool_to_Combat_Inflammation_and_Chronic_Diseases_An_Overview?email_work_card=view-paper food choices can fight inflammation and chronic disease Bottom Line: This is a 2020 paper and since then literally hundreds of papers on the MD have emerged showing how the food plan lowers inflammation and the risk for developing multiple chronic illnesses. Even still, lots of research needs to be done to elucidate the many mechanisms of how food impacts our system and how to optimally individualize dietary recommendations. At this point, our best strategy to prevent and/or recover from any chronic condition is to eat as clean and natural as possible. It has become rather obvious that the further away from a natural diet we get, the sicker we become. On top of that, I have yet to see a full recovery from any health issue without the foundation of a predominantly plant-based, unprocessed, whole foods approach…which is why I keep posting about this subject. All the best to you and yours!
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