Does colloidal silver spray prevent sickness on planes? Gwyneth Paltrow swears by it

PLANES are the worst place to be if you’re feeling sick – and if you’re well, they’re a likely place to fall ill too.

But Gwyneth Paltrow reckons she has the solution for batting away germs on a flight.

The actress says that she avoids getting ill on planes with the aid of .

Over on she reveals: “They say that [colloidal silver] keeps germs at bay so I spray this in the air around me when I sit down. It’s worth the few odd looks.”

Active silver is believed to be antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal – which sounds about right when you’re on a plane which hasn’t been cleaned much.

It was used widely healing until 1938 when antibiotics were introduced.

You’ll find the stuff in plasters as it helps to heal wounds.

And it’s not just Gwynnie who swears by it – Strictly Come Dancing’s Debbie McGee has revealed she loves the stuff too.

Debbie said: "I love my food and health supplements… which build up your immune system."

But experts say there are no high quality studies on the health benefits of taking colloidal silver.

According to the National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health in the US, colloidal silver can cause serious side effects, the most common being argyria - a bluish-grey discoloration of the skin, which is usually permanent

In the UK colloidal silver is legally allowed to be added to any food supplements, a spokesperson from the Food Standards Agency said.

And in 1999, the US Food and Drugs Administration warned taking silver isn’t safe or effective against any illness or condition.

Sun Online Travel previously revealed that the air on planes is so polluted that it could be making you unwell.

And you might want to think twice about using the blanket on a flight if you don't want to get germs from another passenger - sometimes they've not been washed in between uses.