Zinc About Diabetes

Recently, a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies appeared in the break room at work. Although I was in my glory, I questioned my suite mate about why she left the cookies. She said that she would have happily eaten both sleeves of the delicious cookies she has to "watch her sugar."
And so, I write another blog: Type 2 diabetes has become increasingly more common. Type-2 has a strong genetic link and risk factors including: high blood pressure, high alcohol intake, obesity, sedentary lifestyle and age. New research shows that an increase in zinc supplementation may decrease the risk of type-2 diabetes in women by 28%. Zinc, one of the most plentiful trace elements in the body, second only to iron, mediates many physiological functions. It is believed to possess antioxidant properties, which protect against premature aging of the skin and muscles of the body. Also, zinc is believed to speed up the healing process after an injury, maintain a healthy immune system and even influence memory. The supplement has even shown to be part of an effective treatment for age-related macular degeneration. According to American Diabetes Association 7% of the US population suffers from type-2 diabetes. The total costs are thought to be as much as $132 billion.

But not to worry, my suite mate is safe, the cookies are gone. I did what I had to do to help a friend stay healthy.

-Community Assistant

IBS

No one likes to talk about stomach problems. One in five Americans though is said to have Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a "disorder characterized most commonly by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea." Those with IBS may try to control it with what they eat, managing their daily stress or by medication.

In the article "10 Drugs with Great Alternatives," Gale Maleskey suggests that a natural remedy for people with IBS, peppermint oil. Peppermint oil helps to smooth gastrointestinal muscle spasms, reduce abdominal pain and gas, and decrease diarrhea. Those with IBS may also want to take fiber supplements.

Did You Hear The Good News?

I love live music and going to concerts, but hate the “party noises” I hear for days afterwards. Good news for concert go-er everywhere: Studies using guinea pigs and mice found that supplements of beta carotene and vitamin C and E, and the mineral magnesium taken prior to exposure of loud noise could prevent both temporary and permanent hearing loss. Previous studies using these same supplements have shown that they are safe for long term use. Researchers report that the animals who consumed the vitamins did not suffer from temporary hearing loss, even after being exposed to four-hours of 110 decibel (dB) noise, similar to those reached at a loud concert. This cocktail of antioxidants is reported to prevent cell loss in an inner ear structure called the lateral wall. This structure is linked to age-related hearing loss caused by free radicals. There is also on-going research into the effect of MP3 headphones on college students, noise-exposed military troops and factory workers.

I am relieved to know I can prevent some of the damage done to my ears, and that both guinea pigs and mice can be protected from hearing loss.

-Community Assistant

Supplements to Think About

In this world of hyperboles it seems like no one just has a headache any more, everyone has MiGrAiNeS! Being an infrequent sufferer, I have a hard time sympathizing. I know that for some people the condition is debilitating and a constant threat. Migraineurs, as they are called, suffer from a neurological condition, which is more common to women than to men. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light. Often, the cause of these headaches are unknown and medications are considered effective if they reduce the frequency or severity of migraine attacks by 50%.
There are some supplements to lessen the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. A few of the more popular supplements are Magnesium, Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ10) and Riboflavin (B2).

Magnesium- It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system and keeps bones strong. Magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis
CoQ10- is necessary for the basic functioning of cells. It helps decrease high blood pressure and prevent age-related macular degeneration among a list of other conditions.
B2- is vital to the metabolic processes in the body and is necessary for normal cell function, growth, and energy production.

These agents can be found in most multivitamins, although those suffering from migraines may want to up their dosage based on physician recommendations.


-Community Assistant

Vitamin D and MS

I recently read an article yet again boasting the attributes of vitamin D. This supplement is getting more credibility and attention. Oxford researchers report that vitamin D may interact with a specific genetic component that is known to increase the risk of multiple sclerosis and taking vitamin D at critical time periods may reduce the risk of MS. Supporting this study, Harvard researchers report that higher levels of vitamin D in the body may reduce the risk of developing MS by as much as 62%. Multiple sclerosis is among the most common neurological diseases in young adults, affecting 350,000 individuals in the United States and 2 million worldwide. The disease is cause by a loss of nerve cells and the myelin sheath of the spinal cord that is vital to the transmission of signals around the body.

Vitamin D can be found in most multivitamins and also in fortified milk, cheese or orange juice. Another way to get the daily recommended allowance of vitamin D is to spend 15-20 minutes outside, in the sunshine.

-Community Assistant

Name That Vitamin

I was recently asked “How did vitamins get their name?” There are two ways to answer this question:

1. The word “vitamin” comes from Polish biochemist Kazimierz Funk who, in 1912, isolated a water-soluble complex of micronutrients and proposed the complex be named "Vitamine" (a combination of "vital amine"). By the time it was shown that not all vitamins were amines (derivatives of ammonia), the word was already universal. The “e” was dropped in 1920.

2. The naming of vitamins began with assigning the next available letter of the English alphabet as the new vitamin was identified. One notable exception is Vitamin K. Discovered by German researchers for its blood clotting ability, designation of K was available at the time and the letter tied in with the German word koagulation. In some cases, vitamins were originally assigned a letter as part of the title, but later moved to be included in the family of another vitamin. This is true of riboflavin, which was originally identified as Vitamin G, but later reclassified to B2; Biotin, identified at Vitmain H, but is now B7; and Folic Acid, identified as Vitamin M which is now B9. Other vitamins also have common names- Vitamin A is commonly known as retinol, Vitamin C is called ascorbic acid, and the common name of vitamin E is tocopherol.

-Community Assistant

You Say Tomato

I know many people who won't enjoy a good old fashion BLT sandwhich because they don't like tomatoes (and really, a BL just isn't the same.) Well, I have found a reason, other than BLT's, to eat tomatoes. Lycopene, a carotenoids found in tomatoes, as well as watermelon, pink grapefruit and red bell peppers, has been associated with some level of protection against losses in bone mineral density at the lumbar spine in women and at the hip in men. The carotenoids may play a protective role in skeletal health via their antioxidant activity. As the population ages and waistlines continues to grow, so does the number of people affected by osteoporosis, increasing the necessity of agents such as lycopene.
Lycopene has also been associated with reduced incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease and macular degeneration.

I think I have decided what to have for lunch!

-Community Assistant

The Winter Wall

Many long distance runners will reference "The Wall." Hitting this Wall basically means running out of energy. Well, I have hit Winter's icy wall. This time of year many of us notice tiredness, a bit of weight gain, difficulty getting out of bed and bouts of "the blues." The holiday cheer is over and for some reason February feels like the longest month of the year.

Referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder, some treatments include using a light box, exercise and supplementation. In severe cases medication is necessary. Last year, researchers from Norway reported that regular and long-term intake of omega-3 fatty acid-rich cod liver oil may protect people from symptoms of depression. They help nerve cells communicate with each other, which is an essential step in maintaining good mental health. Other studies suggest that diets supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids can enhance the activity of serotonin and dopamine pathways in the brain.

Unfortunately, for those of us ready for spring, the groundhog saw his shadow this year...still 6 week of winter to go!

-Community Assistant

Vitamin D: A Strong Supplement

As a long time gym-goer, I recently enrolled in a "Fitness Challenge" at my gym. Over a 90 day period I will be tested on, amoung other things, my strength and endurance. Not knowing if my multivitamin alone would be enough, I started looking into other vitamins that might help me in this challenge.
An ever-growing body of science supports the benefits of adequate vitamin D levels throughout life. A deficiency of this vitamin is linked to osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases. One particular study found that vitamin D is positively related to muscle power, force, velocity and jump height in adolescent girls. There are similar findings in people over the age of 65. Seniors with too little vitamin D were found to have differences in both a physical performance, which includes things such as walking speed, chair stands and a balance test, as well as differences in grip strength.
Vitamin D can be obtained from sun exposure, food, and supplements.

-Community Assistant