That's Fit

It's a cruel joke that the man upstairs plays on teenage boys. During these early years -- when hormones are in overdrive and thoughts of sex occupy almost every second of the day -- boys sometimes just about the worst they ever will in their entire lives. A major part of this grossly unjust twist of fate is the development of troublesome acne.

Natural hormonal changes are mostly to blame, but diet also plays a crucial role. In particular, high sugar foods and drinks -- which seem to be the food and drinks of choice of many teens -- can contribute to the development of pimples. According to an article in a recent edition of Muscle & Body magazine, high-sugar diets are to blame for depleting zinc in the body. And, since this trace mineral is responsible for skin health, having an insufficient amount is clearly a problem.

The article suggests two things to help teens with their acne problem, the first of which being rather obvious: 1 - stop consuming high-sugar foods and drinks, and 2 - replenish zinc supplies by eating foods such as almonds, oysters, beef, pork, and yogurt. While this may not keep a teenager completely acne free, it will at least help stave off some flare ups.

If you find yourself experiencing fatigue and you know you're getting sufficient sleep, your nutrition could be to blame.

Even those of us who try to eat really well occasionally come up short on certain vitamins and nutrients. Fitnessmagazine.com gave this list of five nutrients that people commonly short themselves. Don't be surprised if you find that you're not getting enough of something -- according to the study, you're in good company!

Gyms are a great place to get fit, but they're also a great place to get sick. Because intense exercise may temporarily lower immunity, you may be somewhat susceptible to catching a cold or flu.

An article in the International Journal of Sports Medicine reports that people who work out tend to have fewer germ-fighting resistance molecules in their saliva after working out than before they start. So, to help stave off sickness, always wash down machines and equipment before using it, assuming that the person who used it before you didn't. Also, try to keep your hands away from your face if possible, and wash them with soap and water before leaving the gym for the day.

As for immune-boosting foods, try to consume a diet rich in vitamin C, zinc, and garlic, as all have been shown to have some semblance of affect on preventing and/or reducing the duration of a cold.

Winter may be winding to a close, but dry skin is far from a thing of the past. But, like with most body issues, what you eat can make a big difference. If you are having trouble with dry skin, Fitsugar recommends you load up on these foods:

• Omega-3s, found in fish, avocado and flaxseed
• Foods with Zinc
• Foods rich in sulphur, like eggs and garlic.
  
• And, of course, water.
  

Other suggestions? Use a humidifier, turn down the heat in your house, bathe as seldom as you comfortably can and invest in a rich moisturizing cream. Also, avoid diuretics like caffeine and alcohol -- they'll dry out your skin.

Zinc is more than just a way to use a 'z' in scrabble -- it's an essential nutrient that your body needs, both to heal wounds and injuries and help your body break down carbohydrates. How do you know if you're getting enough? Here are some signs that you're not, according to Everyday Health:

• Wounds, lesions and infections are difficult to heal.
  
• Your appetite is decreased.
  
• You experience an abnormal sense of taste and smell.
  
• You have difficulty seeing in the dark
• You experience abnormal hair loss.
  

Think you might be low on zinc? Load up on protein sources like red meat, turkey, seafood and legumes, as well as veggies like spinach and peas. Whole wheat bread, yogurt and milk are also good sources.

A little while back, I posted on the progress being made by scientists in their efforts to create an allergen-free peanut. Most of you were extremely pleased to hear of this news, pointing to how your nut allergy has prevented you from enjoying peanuts and peanut butter. Other responders, however, saw this permutation as yet another example of science creating "Frankenfood," which some believe may ultimately do mare harm than good.

Not to fan that flame on that debate to the point of wildfire, but I thought some of you might be interested in hearing about the University of California at Davis' 'super wheat.' By cloning a gene found in a rare and very nutritious form of wheat and then transferring it to a commercially used wheat, the scientists created a wheat that has 15 percent more zinc, iron, and protein than the average wheat. Though this new super-wheat is not yet available, is expected to reach stores in the form of pastas, cereals, and breads some time next year.

Okay, people ... fire away with those comments!!

I think the temperature dipped into the teens last night. I was out late and, when I left the comfort of the warm sound stage in which I was working, my car looked as if it was frozen solid. As I stood next to it, my fingers already trembling as I fumbled to unlock the door, I could see each of my frustrated breaths as they escaped my mouth in the form of such words as ... well, suffice it to say that they weren't words you'd say in church. I was also amazed by how quickly my nose began to run, reminding me that I am not yet out of the woods with the cold I have been nursing for a week.

When I finally arrived home, I jumped on the computer before heading off to bed. I was determined to find out what actually helps stave off and reduce the effects of a cold. What I found were hundreds upon hundreds of home remedies, many of which seemed a little crazy to me. However, the three methods I came across that seemed to have merit were as follows:

Garlic. A recent British study showed that a daily garlic supplement reduced the number of colds test subjects developed (as compared against a placebo group) and also cleared up colds faster. The study pointed out the importance of making sure the garlic supplement contains allicin, a purified version of the garlic's most biologically active agent.

Zinc. There is mounting evidence to suggest that popping some zinc lozenges at the onset of a cold may help reduce its severity. Doctors suggest sucking on one zinc lozenge every two hours or so for the first day you feel cold symptoms (scratchy or sore throat, runny nose). It seems that the zinc does little to effect the cold after the initial symptom stage, however.

Echinacea. Research has gone back and forth on this one, with some reports showing no benefit to echinacea and others, such as a recent University of Connecticut meta analysis of 14 major studies, suggest that it can reduce the average person's chance of developing a cold by 58 percent.

Whether or not these cold prevention/severity reducing methods actually work still remains to be seen, but they at least seem to be well-researched. Have any of you tried any or all of these remedies? And if so, did they work?

With the stress of the holiday season getting close to full swing it's as important as every to take care of yourself and stock up your arsenal of weapons against the cold and flu. And that arsenal, besides a healthy lifestyle and perhaps a flu shot, should probably include the following:

• Vitamin C
• Zinc
• Echinacea
• Elderberry
• Licorice Root

The first three were things I already had on the top of my mind, but the last two I may not have considered before now. You can get more info on each of these here, but as always be just as careful with home remedies as you are with prescription ones.

Nothing's more stressful during the holiday season than getting sick amid all the hoopla.

So, as you're cruising the aisles of the grocery store stocking up on canned pumpkin, flour, sugar and other "necessities", consider grabbing those infamous immunity buildings, zinc and echinacea. Stocking up on vitamin C might also be a good idea, although it is a more controversial remedy for the common cold and one must be careful about dosing with a supplement. As you're picking through the produce, throw in a few bulbs of garlic, which is believed to have antibiotic properties. If nothing else, it sure spruces up sauteed veggies and pasta sauces and can be added to olive oil for a divine bread dip.

Then, after your home perusing the net for holiday gift ideas, visit here and order some fabulous teas that reportedly aid digestion, reduce cholesterol and boost antioxidants . I also like this place, which has some nice herbal and decaf options. Even if you're skeptical of the health benefits, you can't argue that a nice hot cup of liquid does wonders for relaxation. And that can't be bad for warding off illness. As a matter of fact, might be a good gift idea too.

For years, I've popped Cold-Eeze zinc drops whenever I get that telltale tickle in the back of my throat that tells me a cold is coming. Sometimes, my cold is mild, and sometimes it's not. I couldn't really tell you if zinc works or not based on my own very unscientific observations, but I always felt like it was doing something.

That something may have been a placebo effect...or maybe not. A recent exhaustive review of studies involving zinc vs. the common cold produced mixed results. At best, zinc gluconate lozenges may have a moderate effect on a cold bug, but zinc acetate lozenges were deemed worthless.

I ran out of Cold-Eeze before my last virus and it was really, really bad. Was it because I didn't have my zinc? Or would it have been a bad cold anyway? The jury continues to be out on zinc. What do you think?

For everyone who's been popping vitamins to keep them healthy and strong, Reader's Digest recently published 'The Vitamin Hoax - What Not to Take' in their November 2007 issue.

To my friends (myself included), who have been popping pills like Vitamin A and E everyday by only following a beauty columnist's advice on how to make your skin glow (yes, I'm trying to get rid of wrinkles), the Reader's Digest article claims that studies show:

• Taking antioxidant vitamins increases a person's risk of dying by 16%.
• High doses of Vitamin E taken over 10 years slightly elevated cancer risk in smokers.
• Too much Vitamin A increases the risk of liver and lung cancer.

There's so much more to quote in the recent issue, and that doesn't mean I agree or disagree with the article. I just want to share it with you. Everyone should take the time to read it and decide for themselves about what it says because what we learn about vitamins and supplements seems to change daily.

If you are wondering, yes, I take vitamins (as do my children), and will continue to do so -- but that said -- people should stop depending on supplements and instead get their vitamins from a balanced diet consisting of real food (rather than processed). The problem: Only 3 percent of us actually eat that well, so it's much easier said than done ... and supplements can be a good option if you're not getting what you need from your diet.

Here is the list of 10 Vitamins that Reader's Digest suggests that we do not need to take and their reasons why:

I was told by a nutritionist at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona to make sure I put something in my body after I exercise. Exercise takes a lot out of us. So it's important we replenish what we've lost when our physical activity is complete. The experts at active.com agree and offer some smart eating tips for runners wishing to nourish and repair their bodies after workouts.

Try red bell peppers, they say. Just one provides 380 percent of the recommended Daily Value of vitamin C, a nutrient crucial for repairing connective tissues and cartilage. Vitamin C should be worked in throughout the day, every two to three hours or so until five daily servings are consumed. Also give papaya, cantaloupe, and oranges a try.

Protein rebuilds muscle and also repairs bones, ligaments, and tendons. What better source of protein -- and omega-3 fatty acids -- than salmon. "Eating fish high in omega-3s or taking supplements is like throwing a big bucket of ice water on inflammation," say the experts. Mackerel, flaxseeds, and walnuts will also do the trick.

I know it sounds cliche, but I've never liked brussel sprouts. They're one of the only veggies I don't care for, and while I'm sure they're awfully good for me, I just can't eat them. They're too bitter for me. But there might be a reason why brussel sprouts taste bitter to me -- I might not be getting enough zinc.

Seriously. A study from the University of Ulster in England found that women who didn't get at least 7 mg of zinc a day are more likely to find brussel spouts and similar veggies like cabbage bitter. The recommended daily intake for zinc is 8 mg and it's found in fish, lean beef, chicken, yogurt and nuts.

What do you think about this finding? I don't know that a lack of zinc is a problem for me -- I think it's just brussle sprouts are gross. Don't you agree?

Next time you're about to head to the doctor for relief from one of the following problems, consider one of the following home remedies from Glee Magazine:

• Athlete's foot: Tea tree oil works, but olive oil with a bit of garlic crushed into it (let stand for a couple of days before applying) works better
• Tinnitus: Consider how much aspirin you are taking (too much can lead to Tinnitus.) If that's not the problem, increase your intake of zinc-rich foods like spinach, brussel sprouts, asparagus, string beans and sesame seeds.
• Ingrown toenails: Soak your feet in a tub of warm water with Epsom salts. Make sure to let the toe breath
• Acne: Tea tree and lavender oil can boost healing. Zinc supplements may also help.
  

To find out more helpful hints, read the full article.

If you feel tired or lethargic during workouts, you might be low on zinc. Zinc has always been known as an important mineral for immune system functioning and many other general body functions, but research suggests it may also play a major role in how much energy and stamina we have, and how sore we get, when working out. Usual dietary sources of zinc are oysters, red meat, and poultry, but if you're looking for other options fortified versions of cereal, granola, legumes, nuts, and wheat germ are also good choices.