Quercetin for the Common Cold

If you’re fit, 40-something, and want to keep breathing easy this cold and flu season, consider adding quercetin to your supplement lineup. To determine if and how the powerful antioxidant and antihistamine affects upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), researchers from Appalachian State University gave 1,002 adults aged 18 to 85 either a placebo, 500 mg, or 1,000 mg of quercetin daily for 12 weeks. The 1,000 mg regimen cut URTI severity by 36 percent for people 40 and older who were physically fit. The in-shape, middle-aged crew also reported 31 percent fewer sick days due to URTIs. Here’s to using  sick days for playing hooky.