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Author's Note: 10 Remedies That Do Absolutely Nothing to Treat the Common Cold
When I found out I'd be writing about this topic I woke up with a cold. Very funny, universe. So how disappointed was I to find out that studies prove vitamin C won't help prevent catching the common cold, nor shorten it by more than a few hours. All those colds, and all that orange juice. What a sham. Echinacea, too. As effective as a placebo. It turns out, though, I did find some good news in the world of cold relief: During my discovery and research process I learned that instead of running out to the store for orange juice, nasal saline or echinacea, very recent and very preliminary findings suggest probiotics may be the new trend in cold-relieving remedies. My fingers remain crossed for this one.
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More Great Links
- Mayo Clinic -- Antibiotics: Misuse puts you and others at risk
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -- Cold Versus Flu: Questions & Answers
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Trimarchi, Maria. "10 Remedies That Do Absolutely Nothing to Treat the Common Cold" 23 October 2012. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/human-biology/10-remedies-that-do-not-treat-common-cold.htm> 23 May 2013.
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