Evidence-based medical studies show that taking zinc in healthy people within 24 of the onset of a cold can greatly reduce its symptoms and the length of the cold.

Too often, however, we fail to recognize the first symptoms in our everyday stress, so it pays to take zinc supplements during the typical cold season.

Of course, you can also eat oysters. They have by far the highest zinc content of all foods, followed by beef steak in second place. For vegetarians, wheat germ is a good source of natural zinc intake.