You are browsing the archive for 2010 April.

Women With Zinc Deficiency Are More Likely to Be Depressed

11:47 am in Women's Health by Elaine R. Ferguson, MD

As a physician, I was amazed to discover that zinc deficiency affects almost 1 in 3 persons globally. Mood swings are the most common symptoms associated with this mineral deficiency.

Depression, anxiety and aggressive behavior are among the most common psychological symptoms that exist in the industrialized and developing world

There are many reasons for these mental health conditions, but nutrition is one that is often overlooked and holds great promise. Because of the nutrient depletion of key minerals in fruits and vegetables due to industrial farming procedures and the large percentage of fast foods most people consume, correcting vitamin and mineral deficiencies is key to improving mental and physical health.

Earlier research studies have shown a link between serotonin deficiency, a key brain chemical in depression.

Japanese researchers at two universities tested the impact zinc supplementation could have on mood, 30 young women and placed them randomly into 2 different groups-to receive either multivitamins and zinc plus multivitamins for ten weeks. The study participants were given 7 milligrams of zinc.

The multivitamins were given to prevent other vitamin deficiencies. They provided half of the recommended dietary allowances of vitamins A, D, B1, B2, B6, B12, folic acid and niacin by the Japanese government.

When the study ended, only the women taking zinc demonstrated reductions in depression and anger. Their zinc blood levels also increased significantly.

Interestingly, animal studies have found that only zinc deficient female animals experienced increased aggression. This new research appears to support the anger reducing impact in women proceeding zinc supplements noted the researchers, as well as the preceding research studies’ findings.

“Our results suggest that zinc supplementation may be effective in reducing anger and depression,” the researchers noted.

This study was reported in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. “Although our findings are preliminary and should be interpreted with caution, they may prompt further investigations to evaluate the relationship between zinc nutrition and mood states, in women.

Learn more about depression and holistic health. Stop by Elaine R. Ferguson, MD’s site where you can find out all about vitamins and minerals and what it can do for you.

Several Reasons Why You Should Floss Regularly

7:56 am in Women's Health by Gladys Meyer

It can be really hard to start flossing. Starting a new habit is just as hard as stopping a bad habit.

Flossing can be doubly hard to get into a routine because the first few days you’ll probably have sore gums and teeth afterwards. If you keep up your flossing regimen, it gets easier and easier to do it every day.

The best time to floss is before or after you brush your teeth at night before bed. This makes sure that you get all of the food particles out of your teeth so they are not eating at your teeth for the next 8 hours.

Here are the main reasons why you should start flossing today and keep it up for life:

Flossing gets where your toothbrush can’t. When you use your toothbrush there are areas of your mouth it just can’t reach.

New technology and fancy toothbrushes can fool us into thinking that flossing is redundant. Ths I is not the case.

You should still floss every day, ideally after each meal, but a more reasonable compromise is once a day. Getting between your teeth is really important for your overall oral health.

Flossing gets below the gum line. In order to floss properly you need to push or pull the floss up or down into the gums. To fully understand the proper method, you should watch a video on YouTube to get the proper technique.

Flossing isn’t about just running a thread between your teeth. If you want to see how it is done right on your own teeth, see if the next time you to the dentist they would be willing to let you watch them do the flossing. Many times they’ll give you a hand mirror and let you see, so you’ll be able to start doing it at home too.

See more of this writer’s writing on things like manufacturing accounting software and costing software.

Slimming Tips For Busy People

7:43 am in Women's Health by Christine Miller

Computer related jobs topped the line of the work industry nowadays. More and more people are spending more than 8 hours of their time per day sitting in front of their computers. Knowing our bodies are not design for such inert positions, we have to think of ways to release muscle strains or tensions that we acquire for working long hours in such situations. A few good slimming exercises which you can perform while you are in front of your computer will help you remain slim and healthy. You can try on the following exercises:

1. While sitting on your chair and typing on your keyboard, you can wiggle your hips. Do it in a light way for at least few minutes.

2. If you are using a swivel chair in your office, you can twist your body. This is syninymous to doing the dance called “The Twist” just in a sitting position.

3. You can perform a leg lift while working. Put your knees together and lift your heels upward and down. Repeat the exercise for a couple of minutes.

4. You can also lift your legs much the same to marching in place.

5. Swaying to the left and right while working also helps you loosen up your back.

6. Roll your ankles regularly. This aids blood circulation.

7. Roll your wrist regularly which is good in keeping away from carpal tunnel syndrome which you can get if you spend long hours of typing.

8. Contract your abdominal muscles, hold them for a few seconds then release. Repeat this for minutes.

9. You can also execute spine and chest stretch. You can perform this by having your lower back rest on a chair. Put your hands behind your neck and lean back. Hold it for few seconds and look up at the ceiling. You can repeat this a few times during the day.

10. Finally, once in a while stretch you’re your arms, neck and torso.

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