When the mineral zinc comes to mind, I mostly link it with fighting colds. While it's true that it helps support a healthy immune system, that's not all zinc does. It's essential for cell division and the synthesis of DNA and protein. It also stimulates 300 enzymes, which are responsible for many of your body's functions. Zinc heals and protects your skin, is needed for proper thyroid Read more

I'm sure you rarely think to yourself, "Did I get enough zinc today?" Zinc just doesn't get the press like other minerals, calcium for instance. Zinc is an essential mineral since it's present in every cell of our bodies. We need zinc for a healthy immune system (it helps increase the production of white blood cells) to heal wounds, and in order to have the ability to taste and smell. Two of my Read more

Nobody wants to get stuck with a cold, so when you hear that you can take something simple and inexpensive to prevent a week's worth of misery, why not jump at it? Echinacea and zinc are much buzzed-about when it comes to preventing or shortening the duration of colds, but do they really work? When it comes to zinc, hundreds of studies have been conducted, including one in 2000, which found that Read more

AngelaChristin gives us a nice sneak preview of what's to come: Winter wear! I'm in love with her coat, which combines comfort and style into one. And did I mention those hot patent lace-up oxfords? They are definitely worth mentioning. Here's what she's wearing: Coat: Zinc Skirt: Express Tights: Target Shoes: Kenne Dura Congrats to AngelaChristin! Everyone else, submit your looks and I Read more

Zinc is one of those essential minerals that often flies under the radar, mostly because deficiencies of zinc are rare here in the U.S. It is, however, present in almost every cell of your body. It stimulates almost 100 enzymes, which are responsible for many biomechanical reactions in the body. This busy mineral supports a healthy immune system, is needed for wound healing and helps maintain Read more

Oysters inspire no middle ground, you either love them or hate them. I fall in the former category and am always happy when oyster season comes around. Months that contain the letter "R" are the months of oyster season (that is September through April), so the season is upon us! People gulp them raw hoping they are truly the aphrodisiac of legends, but some folks shy away from oysters because Read more

Is it me or are you confused about how much of each vitamin and mineral you are supposed to get each day? Some of my friends take daily vitamins, and some eat fortified foods like calcium-enriched orange juice. It that necessary, or do we get enough in the foods we eat? The first step in answering that question is to know how much we need to get each day. Here's a chart to make it a little Read more