Q: Whenever I start coming down with a cold, I double my vitamin C supplement to 1,000 milligrams a day and start taking zinc lozenges, echinacea, vitamins E, D, and B 50 -- the blend of B vitamins. Do you think this shortens the cold? Also, how much C is it safe to take?

-- Betsy, Hanover, MA

A: Lots of people develop their own cold remedies -- including us. Although we have no hard data proving that our so-long-cold formula works, we believe three things can speed your recovery. And good for you, you're already using two of them: vitamin C and zinc.

The amount of C that's safe is known. What's called the Tolerable Upper Intake Level -- the highest amount thought to pose no risk for most people -- is 2,000 milligrams (mg) a day. So you can take as much as 500 mg of vitamin C four times a day for 2 or 3 days. Start taking it as soon as you feel a cold coming on, and wash the tablets down with plenty of water. At the same time, start sucking on zinc lozenges, one every 6 hours for a few days.

What's the third thing that helps send a cold packing? You got it: chicken soup. The minute you feel a little tickle in your nose or throat, start dosing yourself with a cupful four times a day. Do zinc and vitamin C increase chicken soup's powers? That hasn't been proven. But there's a school of thought that says a belt and a pair of suspenders are better than either alone; if you're a member in good standing, go for it.

Q: I've been taking a multivitamin that contains 400 mcg of the B vitamin folate. But after reading YOU: The Owner's Manual, I bought 800 mcg pills. Is 1,200 mcg of folate a day too much for an active 60-year-old woman?

-- Loretta, Akron, OH

A. Maybe. Getting 800 micrograms (mcg) a day from food and supplements is smart, because that amount appears to reduce the risk of colon cancer 20% to 50%. Incidentally, 90% of Americans don't get that much folate each day.

Although we know of no toxicity reports from taking too much folate, the Tolerable Upper Intake Level for it is 1,000 mcg a day. But keep in mind that you're getting folate from other sources. Many fortified breads and cereals, for example, have as much as 400 mcg a serving. So the 400 mcg of folate in your multi combined with what you already get from food is probably enough. And there's another reason not to overdo: While folate helps to deter cancer, if cancer develops anyway, overdoing folate could make it grow faster.

Q. Do any of those male-enhancement vitamins work? If not, is there anything I can buy without a prescription that does?

-- George, Lexington, KY

A. Dream on. The only thing those supplements will affect is your wallet. Optimal sexual performance is about the health of your whole body -- especially your arteries -- not the fruit in your looms. However, eating foods that nourish your arteries can improve the health of your sex organs, too. That makes your pantry the second most important room in the house when it comes to sexual conditioning.

Some foods are particularly good for your arteries: walnuts and fish, fruits and veggies, and a little alcohol (up to 2 drinks a day for men). Some foods destroy arteries: saturated and trans fats, simple sugars and syrups (especially high-fructose corn syrup, found in many commercial foods), and non-100% whole grains. And one other thing that has nothing to do with food also makes a big difference: getting sweaty. Walk for 30 minutes every day. At least.

If all of the above -- plus, trying to connect better with your partner and adding variety --don't lead to great sex, don't give up. More than 50% of all men and women have sexual problems of one sort or another. Yet only 33% of men and 20% of women talk to a doctor about it, let alone get a second or third opinion. If it takes several pros to solve the problem, fine. It's too important not to seek help. Oh, by the way, Viagra and its cousins do work.