9 Super Supplements

For Your Immune System

Findings on echinacea have been mixed, but some studies suggest that echinacea boosts resistance against colds and other upper respiratory infections. Taken after a cold has started, it can shorten the cold's duration and severity. Best results have been achieved with echinacea purpurea.

Dose: Take 2ml of liquid echinacea three to four times a day, 500mg extract a day, or two 300mg capsules every two to three hours. For best results, use it only for a short period of time when you first feel a cold coming on. Select products with at least 1 percent phenols, the active ingredient. Echinacea is not recommended for people with autoimmune diseases or who are allergic to daisies.

Zinc is an essential trace mineral involved in cell growth and repair. As a supplement, zinc gluconate lozenges have been found to reduce the duration and severity of the cold by killing the virus.

Dose: At the first signs of a cold, take 15mg of zinc gluconate lozenges three times a day. Avoid taking too much zinc, which can suppress the immune system. Also resist taking zinc with orange juice; citrus fruits decrease the effectiveness of zinc.