Does zinc really help with a cold?

Oysters contain the most amount of zinc per serving among all known foods. But even though we may not all be able to eat oysters regularly, there are enough foods containing zinc to fulfil our daily requirements for this essential micronutrient. — Filepic

You feel a cold coming on, or maybe it’s already upon you: the telltale cough, sore throat and stuffy head.

You swing by the pharmacy, where a shelf full of over-the-counter (OTC) products containing the mineral zinc claim to be able to shorten the duration of your symptoms.