Monthly Archives: October 2018

A flatlay of some of the best food sources of zinc on a round wooden serving board against a grey background. Zinc food sources of animal origin products such as meat, fish, cheese and eggs are laid out alongside vegan and plant-based sources such as pumpkin seeds, legumes, mushrooms and a variety of nuts.

Zinc: everything you need to know about this vital mineral

Zinc is the second most abundant mineral in the body after iron, with over 300 enzymes and 1000 transcription factors dependant on this essential micronutrient. It is involved in many cellular processes such as cell proliferation and differentiation, protein synthesis, gene transcription, nucleic acid metabolism and DNA synthesis.1

Zinc deficiency is common, with an estimated one quarter of the world’s population being deficient, often caused by poor dietary intake, low absorption and increased zinc loss.1 The best food sources of zinc can be found in meat, eggs and fish alongside plant-based options such as pumpkin seeds, legumes, cashew nuts, mushrooms and spinach.

In this article we take a closer look at zinc and explore its many benefits to health, including research findings, supplement forms and how to improve absorption.

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Last updated on 10th April 2024 by cytoffice

In the news – health and nutrition research

In this week’s article, we provide a roundup of some of the most recent health and nutrition related articles in the news, five items comprising:

  • Omega-3 DHA in phospholipid form may bypass faulty brain transport in Alzheimer’s disease
  • Infant microbiome predicts obesity risk at age 12 – study
  • Unpublished medical research ‘a threat to public health’
  • Regular omega-3 intake during pregnancy could boost baby brain and vision: Study
  • Reversal of Cognitive Decline: 100 Patients

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Last updated on 20th November 2020 by cytoffice

Curcumin – a natural therapeutic agent

Curcumin, an active constituent of the root of the perennial herb turmeric (also known as Curcuma longa) and a member of the ginger (Zingiberaceae) family, has been used in India and the Far East for thousands of years as a culinary spice and a medicinal herb.

In the last couple of decades, there has been an explosion in scientific interest and research around curcumin’s potential as a natural therapeutic agent for a wide range of chronic inflammatory health conditions. A search on PubMed for curcumin in the title/abstract gives nearly 12,000 search results – much of this research is in vitro or using animal models to demonstrate mechanisms and pathways.
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Last updated on 20th November 2020 by cytoffice

The truth behind artificial sweeteners

The sugar tax, introduced in the UK in 2018, has resulted in many brands reducing the sugar content of their products and replacing some of it with artificial sweeteners. Obesity and related conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease are on the increase and eating sugary foods is a significant contributor to these conditions. Thus the use of artificial sweeteners may seem like the perfect solution in the fight against obesity – a sweet taste with little or no calories – and artificial sweeteners are advocated by many organisations including the American Dietetic Association.1

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Last updated on 20th November 2020 by cytoffice

The impact of antibiotics on the microbiome

In the UK, one of the highest rates of antibiotic prescriptions in the outpatient population comes from dentists and oral surgeons.(1, 2)

Systemic antibiotics are commonly prescribed before removal of the third molar (wisdom tooth), periodontal therapy, placement of dental implants, or other surgery in the oral cavity. Although the clinical benefits of these measures are highly debated, they still form a common practice.(3-5)

In this week’s blog practising dental surgeon and registered nutritional therapist, Keeley Nicholas, discusses prescribing antibiotics, the effect they have on our gut and how to protect our microbiome.

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Last updated on 20th November 2020 by cytoffice