THE POWER OF ZINC

Most all of the following information included in this posting can be found in this website newsletter, published by HEALTH QUARTERS MONTHLY: November 2008 Newsletter. The mission of Health Quarters is one that I highly support and believe in as well, "to help facilitate health, both physical and spiritual, in the lives of God’s people, enabling them to more effectively serve God in His world." Here is their website: Health Quarters Ministries.

The TRUTH ABOUT ZINC:

Without zinc, the functions of your white blood cells cease. These are your immuneforces. They’re supposed to be keeping watchful eye for cancer cells, ready to destroy them along withother foreign invaders like viruses, bacteria and parasites.

HEALTH CONCERNS RELATED TO ZINC DEPLETION :

Prostate Cancer:

Testosterone is vital for male health. It protects the prostate from the wounding, swelling, cancer-causing impact of estrogen on these tissues. Zinc is not only necessary to the production of testosterone, but it keeps an man's fat cells from converting his testosterone into DHT (potent form of testosterone, but weak at protecting prostate gland) and estrogen.

Hair Problems:

A lack of ZINC STORES in the body can be a key contributing factor to a variety of hair and/or scalp related disorders and concerns: brittle, loss, premature graying, slow growth, and even dandruff. The anti-dandruff shampoos on the market are usually high in zinc, but I can't speak for their effectiveness.

Breast, Uterine, Ovarian, Cervical Cancers:

A woman's ovaries are the primary producers of her estrogen and progesterone. When the ovaries are weak (thyroid function problem) or gone (hysterectomy) or retired (menopause), she will not make progesterone to help balance the estrogen that her adrenals and fat cells continue to make. She is now dominated by estrogen, a growth hormone that only stimulates the production of immature cells, which are prone to cancerous mutations, but simultaneously depletes the body of zinc (which is vital for the immune system's ability to fight cancer).

Ear Problems:

The inner ear requires more zinc than any other part of the human body. Insufficient zinc stores in the body may therefore result in inner ear problems, perhaps the most common being ringing--a condition known in the medical world as Tinnitus.

Eye Problems:

When zinc is missing, various eye problems occur. Common ones include: sties, sensitivity to light, inability to adjust to darkness (night blindness), mascular degeneration, and even detached retina or retinal bleeding.

Other problems potentially related to depleted ZINC stores:

• Repetitive yeast infections (vaginal, urinary, intestinal--setting up for digestive diseases)
• Sensory problems related to taste or smell
• Anemia--when zinc is depleted, the body rejects iron....the issue, then, is to supplement with zinc along with iron, or the body will continue to reject the iron!
• Reproductive problems with infertility, irregular female cycles, impotence, reduced sperm count in men

Zinc Depleters:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Drugs (antacids, birth control, cortisone, over the counters,etc)
• Refined grains (flour)
• Processed sweeteners (brown & white sugar, corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose)
• Artificial sweeteners (aspartame, NutraSweet, Splenda)
• Estrogen Dominance ( progesterone production becomes insufficient to balance estrogen, which in turn depletes zinc)

To Replenish Zinc Stores:

Herbal sources whole/capsules: Bee Pollen, Chamomile, Fennel seeds, Milk thistle, Kelp

Food Sources: Alfalfa Sprouts, Nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc), Corn, Garlic, Legumes, Seeds (poppy, pumpkin, sunflower), Leafy Greens (spinach), Onions, Nutritional Yeast, Coconut

Supplementation: Zinc taken by itself is not only poorly absorbed, but can sometimes cause stomach aches. I (Health quarters) often recommend a product by NSP (Natures Sunshine Products) in which zinc is accompanied by various absorption-enhancing substances.

On a final note: Zinc is water soluble, which means it's not stored in fat tissues in the body. It must be replenished daily. Because Zinc is water soluble, much of it in foods is lost during canning or cooking food in water. Here are the 2 Zinc Supplements from Natures Sunshine that Health Quarters suggests if wanting to supplement with it: (click on the links) ZINC -25 MG , and ZINC LOZENGES.

Health In Christ,
Whole-E Herbster

******None of the above statements have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All of the information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. This BLOG should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent practitioner. ******