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" They call it cold season for a reason. Two reasons, actually: Along with the frigid weather comes sniffling and sneezing. And the occasional disorienting or drowsing effects of OTC drugs can make getting sick feel even worse. Luckily there are a handful of tried-and-true plant and vitamin-based supplements with a trusted track record of fending off flu-like symptoms. Whether you&amp;#039;re healthy and intend on staying that way or sick and itching to get back on your feet, these boosters may be your highway to health.   1. Vitamin C Works To: Prevent a cold, but only if you take it before you&amp;#039;re exposed to the virus, says Kathi Kemper, MD, chair for the Center for Integrative Medicine at Wake Forest University. One study found that athletes who took C supplements daily slashed their risk of developing a cold in half. Try 500 mg twice daily during cold season.   2. Ginseng  Works To: Prevent a cold, but like vitamin C, you have to take it well ahead of time. Cold-FX, which contains an extract of ginseng, was found to reduce the incidence of colds by 25 percent when taken twice daily over a four-month period.   3. Echinacea  Works To: Shorten a cold&amp;#039;s duration and possibly prevent you from catching one. Try one 500 mg capsule daily as soon as symptoms arise or whenever someone around you gets sick, says Lynne David, ND, a naturopathic doctor at the Center for Integrative Medicine in Washington, DC. To ensure quality, look for the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP) or NSF International seal.   4. Zinc  Works To: Shorten a cold&amp;#039;s duration and make symptoms less severe. Studies suggest sucking on a lozenge every 3 to 4 hours, starting as soon as you have symptoms.   5. Vitamin D  Works To: Keep your immune system strong. If your levels are normal, then taking extra D is unlikely to help, but since so many people are lacking, it&amp;#039;s a good idea to ask your doc for a blood test.   If you decide to take any supplements regularly, check with your doctor first.  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/womens-health/a5337/5-all-natural-cold-cures-113134/>