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Tag Archives: Zinc
Swiss Researchers Find Zinc Prevents and Cures Acid Reflux Better Than Drugs
Sores from acid reflux
Researchers in Switzerland have made the welcome discovery that the essential nutrient zinc effectively inhibits gastric acid secretion in humans.
The researchers were investigating whether zinc could lead to a rapid and sustained increase of stomach pH (more alkaline) in both animals and humans and provide a rapid acid suppression therapy. They demonstrated that zinc offers a new and prolonged therapy for Read More »
Zinc Deficiency – How to Spot It – What It Does For Your Immune System
Zinc may not be one of the more glamorous nutrients, but it should be.
Zinc is absolutely crucial to life. That said, most people are zinc deficient.
They may be highly functioning, but they are not truly healthy.
If the body does not have what it needs, things break down.
One of the most important functions of zinc is its role in supporting the immune system. It helps the body kill viruses and bacteria.
Read these articles to learn about zinc and how to make sure you are getting enough.
Understanding and Treating Zinc Deficiency in Celiac Disease
The mineral zinc is classified as an essential nutrient due to the vital functions it performs in our bodies. It is found in almost every cell of the body with highest concentrations in the liver, pancreas, kidney, bone, and muscle. High concentrations occur in the brain, middle ear, eye, prostate gland, sperm, skin, hair, and nails. This micronutrient is essential for the activity of approximately 100 enzymes. Enzymes promote biochemical reactions in the body. Read More »
How Gluten Causes Alopecia Areata
![Alopecia-Areata-wikimedia-227x300[3]](https://glutenfreeworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Alopecia-Areata-wikimedia-227x3003-227x300.jpg)
Do you recognize this circular hair loss pattern? It is called alopecia areata. According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, “no FDA approved treatment or cure exists yet.”
No cure, eh? It is amazing how many times I hear this “no cure” declaration when I KNOW people who have been cured of the condition in question, in this case, alopecia areata. Maybe they mean no DRUG exists that cures it.
I was recently shopping at a department store to pick up some new exercise shorts when the security guard walked past me.
He was a young man, about twenty-five, medium height with a thick build, pale skin and short cropped black hair. I noticed several round spots where hair was missing from the side and back of his head. It looked like he had taken an electric razor and buzzed those places bare.
I said hi. He replied with a smile and a hello. I told him I didn’t mean to pry, but I noticed the bald spots and asked whether he got them in an accident. He said no, they just started appearing a few years ago and he’s tried everything to get the hair to grow back.
I asked if he was taking zinc supplements. He said no and asked why…
I looked up hair disorders in our Gluten Free Works Health Guide.
According to the Health Guide, alopecia areata is caused by an immune reaction and targets the area and zinc deficiency. The immune reaction can be caused by gluten and the zind deficiency by either not eating enough, or more likely, by malabsorption of zinc – a common problem in people with celiac disease who are not on a gluten-free diet. Taking zinc and following a gluten-free diet can turn around alopecia areata so that the hair grows back.
The guard thanked me about ten times. He was ecstatic to discover that he might have hope of getting his hair back after all.
Now, I don’t know how smart it is to walk up to a stranger and start advising them on their hair loss, but in this case I already knew a number of people whose alopecia areata resolved after they went gluten free.
This is why we gathered medical information from around the world to create the Gluten Free Works Health Guide. So, everyone, no matter where they live, can access it and find out what is causing their symptoms and the steps they need to take to fix them. So, they could discover which of their medications might be depleting the nutrients they need and which foods or supplements they need to ingest to replete their levels. So, they could connect the dots and take charge of their health. So, they could get healthy and stay that way.
Zinc Deficiency – How This One Deficiency Can Affect Every Part of the Body
One nutrient deficiency can have a drastic effect on your health. We will illustrate by using zinc, but every nutrient is similar in that it is necessary for multiple body activities. What applies to zinc applies to all nutrients.
What is Zinc?
Zinc is a mineral that is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism, being essential for activation of almost 200 enzymes that have vital roles in the body. When enzymes do not get activated, they cannot perform their necessary functions which, in turn, damages health. Zinc promotes healthy skin, hair, immunity, fertility, and growth.
What Does Zinc Do In The Body?
- Role in cell regulation;
- Required in immune function to fight off invading bacteria and viruses;
- Role in maintaining proper acid/base balance;
- Role in production of DNA and RNA (genetic material in all cells);
- Role in production of proteins;
- Required for lipid metabolism;
- Required for production of eicosanoids (signaling chemical);
- Essential for male and female fertility;
- Required in vitamin A metabolism (getting out of liver storage and transporting);
- Supports normal development during gestation, childhood and adolescence;
- Required for normal pregnancy and labor;
- Component of insulin (energy metabolism);
- Component of thymic hormones (immune function); and
- Component of gustin for sense of smell and taste (taste acuity).
What Can Go Wrong When Zinc is Deficient?
Here is a list : Read More »
Understanding and Treating Zinc Deficiency in Celiac Disease
The mineral zinc is classified as an essential nutrient due to the vital functions it performs in our bodies. It is found in almost every cell of the body with highest concentrations in the liver, pancreas, kidney, bone, and muscle. High concentrations occur in the brain, middle ear, eye, prostate gland, sperm, skin, hair, and nails. This micronutrient is essential for the activity of approximately 100 enzymes. Enzymes promote biochemical reactions in the body.
Zinc supports a healthy immune system. It is needed for wound healing and DNA synthesis. It helps maintain our sense of taste and smell and is involved in energy metabolism, hemoglobin production, carbon dioxide transport, prostaglandin function, synthesis of collagen, protein synthesis, and vitamin A metabolism. Zinc is important for male fertility. It supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence. Read More »