If you’ve read our past blogs that feature supplements and other nutrients that all begin with a particular letter, you know how this works: we’ve done this from time to time over the last several years. So we’ll spare you the long-winded introduction and explanation, and go right to the subject at hand.
We thought it time that we brought three ‘z’ supplements from the end of the line, so to speak, front and center to featured status for your viewing and edification. Following are summaries of some of the health benefits provided by natural remedies that begin with the letter ‘z.’ Find even MORE information about them elsewhere on this website.
Three Natural Remedies that Start with a Z
Zinc. Zinc is a four-letter word that belongs in everyone’s vocabulary for its versatility in providing health benefits. Its reputation for being able to stave off or reduce colds has in recent years elevated zinc into the same category of vitamin C as popular immune boosters. Zinc also has shown some success in strengthening metabolism function, aiding in the healing of wounds, and enhancing your ability to taste and smell. Zinc is found naturally in our bodies, but if we aren’t always eating the right foods that contain it, we might end up suffering from a deficiency that can be addressed with proper supplementation. Zinc’s status as an antioxidant helps explain its potential to bolster the immune system, and it equips our bodies to manufacture proteins and DNA which play a foundational role in fueling childhood growth and development. Other nature-remedial actions that zinc has been shown to support are treating diarrhea by reducing its bouts (and is recommended in that regard by the World Health Organization [WHO]) delay the progression of age-related macular degeneration; enhance the sexual health of men; help fend off osteoporosis; and treat neurological symptoms related to depressed zinc levels.
Zeaxanthin. Found in some fruits and vegetables as well as in the skin and eyes of humans as well as in some animals, zeaxanthin is classified as a carotenoid pigment, and it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics. It has demonstrated a capacity to thwart the progression of some neurological, skin, and eye disorders by acting as a sort of protective shield against excessive light and the side effects linked to oxidative stress. Additionally, zeaxanthin can play a contributory role to the treatment or prevention of certain types of allergies – such as allergic skin diseases, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis – thanks to its anti-inflammatory characteristic. Zeaxanthin also has an antiparasitic attribute in that it has shown antimalaria activity, referring to one of the world’s oldest health problems that still is affecting 40 percent of the world’s population touching more than 100 nations. As for zeaxanthin’s role in targeting eye health, studies have show that it combined with lutein and has the potential to boost vision in people already suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. Zeaxanthin’s knack for reducing oxidative stress and oxidation also puts it in line as a good candidate for preventing or at least treating liver diseases such as steatotic (fatty) liver disease (SLD).
Zymetane. Zymetane is the brand name for a food enzyme geared toward nutritionally and supporting our digestive health. If we are experiencing issues digesting, processing, or eventually passing what we ingest, the rest of our bodies isn’t going to feel much better. Among the key active ingredients in zymetane are pancreatin, protease, amylase, lipase, pepsin, betaine hydrochloride, and ammonium chloride. Let’s take a look at some of those zymetane components:
- Pancreatin: It contains digestive enzymes that might be effective in assisting in the breaking down and digestion of fats, starch, and protein.
- Protease: Helps in digestion as well as absorption of protein out of food and can induce decrease in inflammation.
- Amylase: An enzyme that contributes to the breakdown of starches and carbohydrates during digestion. It is considered an antidiabetic that ramps up energy.
- Pepsin: Pepsin further breaks down the proteins in your ingested foods into smaller units called peptides, which are then tiny enough to be absorbed by the small intestine.
- Betaine hydrochloride. This man-made form of betaine is used for a variety of digestive issues, to include heartburn, acid reflux, diarrhea, bloating and regulating levels of stomach acid.
Perhaps there is or are something/some things here that might interest you enough to want to purchase one or more of these products. First, though, be sure to discuss your possible choices with your primary-care physician to get a handle on the pros and cons of each of these.