Quote of the Week:

"The way you think, the way you behave, the way you eat, can influence your life by 30 to 50 years."

-Deepak Chopra

Be Well,

Erase Years From Your Age With This One Vitamin

Posted by Brittany Stepniak –

Friday, October 12th, 2012

Scientists in the Linus Pauling Institute of Oregon State University and the OSU College of Public Health and Human Sciences recently conducted research regarding the effectiveness of zinc in elderly people.

It is common knowledge that as the body's metabolism slows in old age, the body's ability to absorb vital vitamins and nutrients also begins to decline and this study focused on one element specifically and how direly the body struggles to absorb it as we age.

The research showed that it is extremely important for elderly individuals to maintain a daily intake of at about 15 mg of zinc to prevent some debilitating deficiencies.

You can find the study found in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry which confirms that approximately 40 percent of elderly Americans do not get enough zinc – researchers gathered the other information based on findings from laboratory animals.

The good news is that the animals that were given about 10 times their dietary requirement for zinc, the biomarkers of inflammation were restored to those of younger animals.

The bad news is that a lack of zinc in your system appears to be a significant factor in the majority of the diseases that end up killing people.

Emily Ho, an LPA principal investigator and associated professor in OSU School of Biological and Population Health Sciences warns that elderly Americans aren't consuming nearly enough of this nutrient – and what they are consuming isn't being absorbed well.

“We’ve previously shown in both animal and human studies that zinc deficiency can cause DNA damage, and this new work shows how it can help lead to systemic inflammation,” Ho said.

“Some inflammation is normal, a part of immune defense, wound healing and other functions,” she said. “But in excess, it’s been associated with almost every degenerative disease you can think of, including cancer and heart disease. It appears to be a significant factor in the diseases that most people die from.”

As a result of this and what is now known about zinc absorption in the elderly, Ho said that she would recommend all senior citizens take a dietary supplement that includes the full RDA for zinc, which is 11 milligrams a day for men and 8 milligrams for women. Zinc can be obtained in the diet from seafood and meats, but it’s more difficult to absorb from grains and vegetables – a particular concern for vegetarians.

Aside from vitamin tablets, zinc is found in meat, eggs, oysters and other seafood, black-eyed peas, wheat germ, and tofu. So if you are a vegetarian, don't forget to add some tofu into your dinner rotation!

Doctors say that consciously adding zinc into your daily food in-take literally improves all aspects of your health and overall well-being. Researchers write that “zinc is such a critical element in human health that even a small deficiency is a disaster.” Once you start being more mindful about getting zinc into your diet a plethora of benefits await!

The top ten benefits are as follows:

■

Improve Athletic Performance and Strength

■

Support Male Reproductive Health and Fertility

■

Support Female Reproductive Health and Fertility

■

Prevent Cancer and Boost Immune Function

■

Improve Cardiovascular Health

■

Become More Sensitive to Insulin and Prevent Diabetes

■

Get The Super Antioxidant Effects of Zinc

■

Detoxify The Brain of Heavy Metals and Prevent Alzheimer’s

■

Boost Brain Function and Treat ADHD

■Elevate Mood and Avoid Depression

Once more:

Quote of the Week:

"The way you think, the way you behave, the way you eat, can influence your life by 30 to 50 years."

Deepak Chopra

Be Well