It's a "Cold" Time of Year

   Yup.  The sneeze, sniffly, drippy, cough inducing cold season has arrived.  And, as always, researchers are still trying to find the causes.  Time and chicken soup seem to work the best at treating the symptoms.  I have sen hints that Vitamin C helps, but have no proof that it cures.  A word of caution to those of you trying Zinc containing compounds, that serious side effects can occur from taking too much of them.  Evidence of that was the recent removal of Zinc from denture adhesives due to toxicity concerns.  Vitamin d deficiency is being identified with a number of disease processes and it would not surprise me to one day see it linked to colds as well.  Health food friends advocate taking a tablespoon of honey mixed with a small amount of powdered cinnamon in a hot tea mixture for relief of symptoms too.
   But, before you try self medications, especially beyond the recommended doses, please consult with your health care provider, or at least Google search your plans to find out what any costly side effects might be.  Try to keep your diet inclusive of lots of fruits and vegetables to avoid vitamin deficiencies.  That being said, here's hoping for a healthy winter for us all.  Dr. P