It’s common for Americans to turn toward more natural methods of preventing sickness, especially after the stress and fatigue of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many swear by taking zinc, for instance, to prevent illness or cut down overall sick time. But what’s actually known about the mineral?

Zinc is essential for bone growth, wound healing and hormone production, and some studies show it helps stimulate the immune system via the body’s T cells, a kind of immune cell. But the scientific literature showing its role in preventing sickness is both complex and inconsistent, with little evidence zinc can do much more than shorten a cold’s duration by a day or two.

While some experts say they themselves take zinc when they start to feel sick, others say not to waste your money.

“Zinc plays a critic

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