Put down that packet of Ener-C Effervescent Powdered Drink Mix and pick up that bar of soap instead. Washing your hands is likely more effective in your efforts to dodge a cold than that fizzy 1,000 mg of Vitamin C. That's according to a newly published report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

soap trumps vitamin c when it comes to colds

Highlights from the study:

• super-dosing on Vitamin C, taking echinacea and putting yourself through nasal irrigation (via neti pots and the like) doesn't really do much
• zinc lozenges may help shorten the duration of colds in adults by up to one and a half days
• probiotics may play a part in preventing upper respitory tract infections
• frequent hand washing may be the most effective way to avoid colds

Oh geez. I just told Staff that soap trumps vitamin C when it comes to colds; now she's trying to figure out how to ingest it.

Here, get the report's details from this story at the nationalpost.com.