Researchers uncover secret to staying pneumonia-free this winter Low levels of zinc can kill more than just your sex drive. Turns out, not having enough of this important nutrient can increase your risk of dying from pneumonia. A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that zinc plays an important role in either preventing or limiting the damage done by pneumonia. Researchers from the USDA, Tufts University, and Boston University studied nursing home residents (averaging 84.6 years old) over a 12-month period. When the researchers measured the zinc levels at the end of the study, they discovered that those with low levels had an increased incidence of pneumonia, had it for a longer period of time, and needed to take antibiotics for longer as well. (With the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs like MRSA, the less you use antibiotics, the better.) But to me, the most important part of the study was this: Those who had a normal zinc level had a 39-percent lower mortality rate than those who were low in zinc. It just makes sense: If you don't develop pneumonia, chances are pretty good you're not going to die from it. But the study didn't merely show that adequate levels of zinc can help prevent pneumonia - it showed that supplementing with zinc is an effective way of reducing your risk. Quite a switch from the supplement-bashing studies (no doubt funded by Big Pharma) popping up in medical journals. It's no wonder zinc would mount such a strong defense against a disease like pneumonia. It's responsible for helping you maintain a healthy immune system. It increases the production of your infection-fighting white blood cells-plus it gives them the extra boost they need to fight more aggressively. Zinc also increases the number of your infection-fighting T-cells. The researchers concluded that more research is necessary (of course they did - that's how they get paid, isn't it?). I wouldn't wait around for them, though. You can get all the zinc you need by including plenty of meat in your diet. At two milligrams per ounce, a nine-ounce steak would put you right in the middle of the recommended 15 to 25 mgs per day. But be careful: Zinc can easily fall into the "too much of a good thing" category. If you O.D. on zinc, it can actually inhibit your immune function. Your best bet is to go to an alternative doctor and have a test done to determine if you're deficient in zinc - and to tell you how much you should supplement with. To find an alternative doc in your area, go to www.acam.org. Swedish research suggested that daily consumption of several glasses of tea may have a profound effect on the incidence of ovarian cancer - one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in women. The study involved over 61,000 Swedish women over a period of 15 years. The results: Those who drank 2 or more cups of tea every day enjoyed as much as a 46% reduction in their risk of developing ovarian cancer. Drinking less than this amount still helped measurably, but not nearly as dramatically as the 2-cups-and-up crowd. Though the research didn't isolate benefits by tea types, most respondents were habitual drinkers of the black tea varieties. However, both black and green teas contain the powerful antioxidant polyphenols thought to slash cancer risk. These compounds are found in tea, wine, coffee, some fruits, chocolate (sugar-free) and other sources. But then, you already knew that if you've been a reader of mine for more than a fortnight. Now if only they'd make some garlic tea to drink with overcooked meats, we'd really have something… | 
