Colourful posters plastered on everything from the doors to the stairs of Toronto’s Union Station are a zealous marketing strategy by the Montage Corporation. Their product is the herbal supplement Ré-zistex—previously labelled as Resistol—which claims to provide exclusive protection from unruly germs that may cause colds and the flu.
“I’ve seen the posters for [Ré-zistex] all over the subway on my way to work. I’m not sure exactly what it does, but it’s intriguing. I definitely know it’s supposed to fight germs,” said one frequent TTC user. When asked whether Ré-zistex is a supplement they would try, another TTC user answered, “Maybe, I just don’t know what the difference is between this and another herbal supplement.”
The difference between Ré-zistex and other cold and flu remedies is that it apparently starts to tackle germs before you begin to feel sick. Since most infections lay dormant before you develop any symptoms, Ré-zistex supports your immune system during the formative stages of a cold or flu. In a recent study, one group of participants took Ré-zistex in a two-weeks on, one-week off pattern for five months, while a second group did the same with a placebo. The study results showed that the placebo only reduced cold and flu incidence by 14 per cent, while Ré-zistex reduced the occurrence of the cold and flu by 67 per cent. In three subsequent studies, participants taking Ré-zistex increased their antibody generation by 81 per cent and immune system response to unwanted organisms increased by more than 30 per cent. Although a new product, mounting evidence suggests that Ré-zistex may be a promising new supplement.
The Ré-zistex website claims the supplement’s “effervescent” formula will boost your immune system, providing users with antioxidants, electrolytes, and amino acids. Each pill of Ré-zistex contains vitamins A, C, E, and B12, magnesium, zinc, selenium, manganese, and potassium. It also contains astragalus and angelica, which work synergistically to regulate the body’s immune system, and echinacea, a germ-fighting herbal supplement. Ré-zistex tablets must be dissolved in a glass of water and consumed with food either a few hours prior to or following any other medications.
