Zinc and Other Health Issues

When you think about zinc, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? A vitamin slogan? A cold remedy? For a lot of people, zinc is one of the first things they turn to when a cold is brewing. However, different studies on zinc and the common cold have had different outcomes. One study from the Cleveland Clinic found that zinc didn’t make a difference for muscle aches and fever, but did cut the duration of a cold by half. Another study looked at different types of zinc lozenges used for treating colds — zinc gluconate vs. zinc acetate. In … Continue reading →

Chromium and Your Health

Chromium is an essential mineral for good health. Research has shown that it may be helpful for certain health conditions… and less than helpful for others. There may be a connection between insulin resistance in people with type 2 diabetes and chromium. For people with type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t use insulin effectively — insulin is the stuff that helps the body store and use glucose. A chromium deficiency can also impair the body’s ability to use glucose. Could chromium supplements help diabetics manage their disease? So far, study results have been inconclusive. Only one study out of fifteen … Continue reading →

Chromium Deficiency

Your body doesn’t need massive amounts of chromium, but it does need some chromium in order to function properly. The intestinal tract absorbs very low amounts of chromium — not much more than two and a half percent of the chromium consumed at best. What your body does manage to absorb gets stored in the liver, spleen, tissue, and bones. What helps improve chromium absorption? Vitamin C (found in fruits and veggies) Niacin (a B vitamin found in red meats, poultry, fish, and whole grains) You don’t necessarily have to stress about your chromium intake. The body needs very little … Continue reading →

Why Does My Body Need Chromium

It takes a lot of different things to keep your body going. A mineral called chromium is essential for good health… though experts don’t know a whole lot about how much or why. What does chromium do in the body? It seems like it has a couple of related functions for good health, including: Enhancing insulin action. Insulin helps the body metabolize and store carbs, fat, and protein. Chromium seems to play a role in helping the body continue to process blood sugar normally as you age. Enhancing carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. More research is underway on this one, … Continue reading →

Low Vitamin D Levels Linked with Health Problems

An Austrian study took a look at the health problems that can come with low levels of vitamin D. Researchers followed more than 3,200 men and women from southwest Germany for eight years. Most of the participants had some form of heart disease, and the average participant age was sixty-two. During the study, the participants were tested weekly for vitamin D levels. Over the eight years of the study, 737 participants died — 463 deaths from heart-related problems and the rest from other causes. One of the vitamin tests showed that patients with the lowest levels of vitamin D were … Continue reading →

Magnesium and Health Issues

Magnesium is an essential mineral for good health. Research has suggested that it may play a role in managing major health issues! Magnesium and blood pressure: a clinical study called DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) found that high blood pressure could be lowered with a diet heavy in fruits, veggies, and low-fat dairy. That kind of diet is high in minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. It’s hard to see the effects of magnesium alone — it is often present in foods that are high in fiber and potassium, too. But the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, … Continue reading →

Magnesium Deficiency

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, many adults in the United States are not getting enough magnesium in their diets! Early symptoms of magnesium deficiency can include: Loss of appetite, nausea, and/or vomiting Fatigue and weakness Advanced symptoms of magnesium deficiency can include: Numbness and/or tingling Muscle contractions and cramps Seizures Personality changes Abnormal heart rhythms Symptoms of magnesium deficiency can look like other diseases and vice versa. Talk to your doctor for an official diagnosis. For many people, magnesium intake isn’t low enough to result in deficiency but isn’t high enough to promote optimal magnesium status. … Continue reading →

How to Get More Magnesium in Your Diet

Magnesium is available through a wide variety of foods. It is entirely possible to get enough magnesium solely through food choices and not need a supplement at all! Any green vegetable is a great source of magnesium. Why? Because the chlorophyll molecules that give a plant its green color have magnesium in the center. Good sources of magnesium include: Halibut — a three ounce serving contains 90 milligrams of magnesium. Dry roasted almonds or cashews can contain between 70 and 80 milligrams of magnesium per ounce. Dry roasted peanuts and peanut butter contain 50 milligrams of magnesium per serving. A … Continue reading →

Why Does My Body Need Magnesium?

I’ve been a fan of magnesium since I read about a study about magnesium helping something like eighty percent of migraine sufferers find some relief. But this mineral does other good things for your body! Of all the minerals in your body, magnesium is the fourth most abundant. About half the magnesium in the human body is found in the bones; the other half is mostly found inside tissues and organs. About one percent of the magnesium in the body is found in the blood. So what does all that magnesium do? Helps the body maintain normal nerve and muscle … Continue reading →

Zinc Deficiency

When the body isn’t taking in enough zinc — or zinc isn’t being absorbed in the right amounts — it is possible to develop a zinc deficiency. What are the signs of zinc deficiency? Growth retardation including delayed sexual maturity Hair loss Loss of appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, and other gastrointestinal issues. Skin and eye lesions Delayed wound healing Problems with smell and taste Mental lethargy Some people are at higher risk of a zinc deficiency than others, including: Vegetarians. The body tends to absorb less zinc from plant foods than from animal sources. If you are following a vegetarian … Continue reading →