Most of us come down with at least a couple of colds a year; children get up to a dozen. But we all know people who seem never to catch one. What's their secret? Do they have extraordinarily robust immune systems, and the rest of us, pathetically weak ones? You might think this was key, given the number of nutritional supplements, cold remedies and fortified cereals on the market that purport to augment the immune system - often with the help of vitamins, zinc or ginseng - and by so doing stave off colds.
But science and experience don't back this up. On the contrary, if you're keen on tamping down your own cold, “boosting” your immunity may be the last thing you want to do.
This is a lucid and important article about the common cold from the October 5, 2010 NY Times: How Not To Fight Colds, by Jennifer Ackerman.
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