As coughs, colds and winter bugs begin to sweep across the UK, one NHS doctor has shared a simple tip that could help ease symptoms and even shorten recovery time, and it all comes down to a single supplement.
Dr Shireen, an NHS GP who regularly shares health advice online, says that taking vitamin C and zinc at the first sign of a cold could help your body recover faster and reduce the severity of symptoms. Speaking in a video to her followers, she said: “I’m going to give you one small tip, an extremely easy tip, that is going to reduce the duration and severity of any cold you have this winter.
“So, the second you notice an itchy throat, a runny nose, itchy or burning eyes, anything that suggests you’ve got a cough or a cold coming, what I want you to do is take two things: vitamin C and zinc.”
Dr Shireen added that while you can’t completely prevent catching a cold, research suggests that combining these two nutrients early on can make a difference.
“You can actually get Berocca-style tablets that you can pop into water. Just start it,” she said.
“You can’t prevent coughs or colds, but taking zinc and vitamin C reduces their duration and severity. I’ve personally been doing this for the last couple of years, and I can tell you, it really works.”
Both vitamin C and zinc play vital roles in supporting the immune system. Vitamin C, found naturally in citrus fruits, peppers and leafy greens, helps maintain healthy skin, blood vessels, and bones, as well as protecting cells from oxidative stress. It also contributes to reducing tiredness and fatigue.
Zinc, meanwhile, supports normal immune function, wound healing and even cognitive health.
It’s found in foods such as red meat, shellfish, legumes and seeds, but many people in the UK fall short of the recommended daily intake.
When taken together, the two nutrients are thought to provide a joint immune boost. Some studies suggest zinc lozenges or tablets can reduce the duration of a cold if taken within 24 hours of symptoms appearing.
However, experts also say that supplements should be taken on top of an already balanced diet.