Prospects of the common cold, influenza, sore throats and a plethora of aches and chills are just a few weeks away and this is a good time to think about some strategies to beat the winter blues. However recent studies into one major area of prevention has thrown up some very interesting facts that people should be aware of. It is the whole area of zinc supplements and zinc deficiency.
When one thinks of fresh oysters the mind usually races to images of Casanova, seduction and sexual libido. Not many people think immunity, cold and flu prevention or infection resistance. And yet, down there in the depths of the ocean,
From the depths of the ocean comes a product that few have considered as a possible treatment for acne. However sitting there in it’s shell on the bottom of the ocean, the oyster possesses some remarkable properties that can have a marked effect on the progression of acne and other skin disorders. Fresh oysters are of course delicious but are hard to get and are not to every ones liking. Oyster extract offers a way to get all the benefits without the oral sensation.
Dr. Prasad is considered to be the world expert on the trace mineral zinc and its metabolic effects on human beings with somewhere between 200 and 300 peer-reviewed publications to his credit . In this article he discusses an investigatioin of the effect of “mild zinc deficiency” on the serum testosterone levels of men.
Zinc, often described as the most ubiquitous trace element in the body, is of great importance in human nutrition. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that up to 80% of western society may be mildly zinc deficient. One of the best sources of zinc are oysters and oyster extract powder is an excellent supplemental source of zinc. However not all oyster powders are the same.
For centuries many have debated as truth or myth the fact that oysters are an aphrodisiac. The oyster lover will always agree, the oyster hater will always refute the claim. The problem for the poor old oyster in claiming it’s well deserved title, is that eating one can be quite a disconcerting experience for the not so seasoned gourmet. The taste and texture are most definitely an acquired taste and if eaten at the wrong time of the year when they are slightly milky, the virgin oyster eater may never wish to repeat the experience. However when eaten in season with a few condiments to ease the novice on board, they are quite simply an experience, the very thought of which, will cause the thinker to salivate with all the gusto of a ravenous canine. Many gourmets throughout history report them as being the ultimate hors d’oeuvres and no food can compare to them for setting the gastric juices flowing.
What’s the Alternative?
Ok, you say, they still look like something an emphysema patient coughed up. There is an alternative for those of you who want the effect but just can’t endure the oral sensation. It’s called oyster extract powder and it is available at a web site near you.
The food supplement business is booming, No where is this more evident than on the internet where thousands of companies compete to offer the latest cure all’s and at the best discounted prices. Americans will spend $30 billion this year alone on anti-oxidants. Europe is catching up fast with growth in the bio actives market reaching 35% last year.
