Cool cold cures

At one time or another, every one of us succumbs to the common cold. The bravest, the strongest, the sweetest, the smartest our virtues matter not to these viruses as they set about reducing us to coughing, sneezing shadows of our former selves.

Worse yet, there's no cure. Antibiotics, champs at knocking out bacterial infections, are down for the count against cold viruses. So we sniffle on bravely, maybe take a cold pill or two, and hope the symptoms will disappear in the customary week or so.

Take C and see: Vitamin C works in the body as a scavenger, picking up all sorts of trash including virus trash. It can shorten the length of a cold from seven days to maybe two or three days. Vitamin C may also cut back on coughing, sneezing, and other symptoms. Short-term use of such high doses shouldn't cause any side effects. But you should get your doctor's okay before starting any supplement program. Better yet, simply get your additional vitamin C by drinking it. Orange, grapefruit, and cranberry juices are rich sources of vitamin C.