Zinc for Health

Saw a video that said that zinc is important for testosterone production. It was a partially tongue-in-cheek video, so I wasn't quick to take it seriously. A bit of research seems to confirm this claim. More specifically,

Zinc is necessary to maintain normal serum testosterone. Inadequate zinc levels prevent the pituitary gland from releasing luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormones, which stimulate testosterone production.

Zinc also inhibits the aromatase enzyme that converts testosterone into excess estrogen. The testosterone to estrogen ratio in men declines with aging from a high of about 50:1 to half of that, or even a low of 10:1. Higher estrogen activity results in increasd risk of heart disease, weight gain, and obesity.

One reason for the progressive weight gain with age is that fat cells contain aromatase. More fat cells mean more estrogen which means more fat deposition.

This is further aggravated by alcohol consumption, which lowers zinc and increases estrogen, and so magnifies the problem.

From Advanced-Health.com - Zinc in Health & Nutrition.

Zinc not only maintains normal testosterone levels, it also boosts brain activity, heals and protects skin, improves mood and appetite, and cuts short the common cold.

The food highest in zinc is oysters. 3.5 ounces of cooked chicken has 1.3 mg. 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds has 1.7 mg. 2 Tbl of wheat germ has 2.4 mg. 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds has 4.2 mg (considered a good vegetarian source). 3.5 ounces of ground beef has 5.5 mg. And the next hightest to oysters, beef pot roast (3.5 oz, again) has 8.5 mg. Oysters of the same amount cooked have a whopping 39 mg.

That's not enough for me to seek out oysters suddenly, but this makes me more aware that I need to be more conscious of whether I'm eating foods that are good sources of zinc on a regular basis.

This is useful:

Zinc Deficiency Test

Zinc levels in blood, hair and other tissues are indicators which have been inconclusive and sometimes misleading. In the early 1980s a simple taste test was developed and reported in The Lancet. To create a test solution, dissolve 0.1 percent zinc sulfate (available at health some food stores and your locl pharmacy) in a base of distilled water. You should refrain from eating, drinking or smoking for at least an hour before the test, then place about a teaspoon of the solution in your mouth and swish it around for 10 seconds. If it tastes unpleasant or metallic, your level of zinc is probably adequate. However, if the solution tastes like water, you may be receiving less zinc than you need.

Others sources of info: This site is about zinc (and magnesium) in relation to testosterone from a bodybuilding perspective:

Zinc literally promotes healing, tissue repair, and muscle growth. And as I was discussing earlier it helps to optimize and increase Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1, Growth Hormone, and the all mighty Testosterone! In addition, many of the enzymes that prevent the buildup of lactic acid (the "fatigue acids") require zinc. Doesn't sound like something you want to mess with does it? Exactly!

Vegetarian Society is a good source for verifying the other sources. As well as NutritionData (ND).

Making the Most

Not that I particular like this look, but I commend this guy for making the most of what he's got. I like that he's a musician, too. One who plays with frame drummers.

Bonos-Chronos

Here's a good site for displaying the time in a fashionable way. It's simply called clocklink.com.

Sol Sibos

There are several Asian films that I've seen that have impressed me, caught my by surprise. I watched them with low expectations, thinking that I'd be disappointed even though I wanted so much to like them. I even was afraid to hope that they'd be good. I was glad to find that I was wrong in these cases. I was going to post the all here, but I've decided to post them separately. They each deserve their own space.

The latest movie I saw is called 'Saving Face.' It was directed by Alice Wu. Never heard of her, but what little I know of her I like a lot. This is her first feature and I commend her on the job she did

Slip and Bleed...

Guaranteed to Jog the Gut.


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Mini Hot Air Balloons

Spotted this photo and immediately envisioned making mini hot air balloons for the back yard. Instead of having them float away, I'd tether mine to the ground. This way they can be enjoyed for extended periods as they float in mid-air.


It would be like those paper-bag lanterns. These are lanterns that hang from the ground, so to speak.

SCENARIO: Tribe Called Quest with Leaders of the New School

Tribe Called Quest
Leaders of the New School

SCENARIO

Here we go yo, here we go yo
So what so what so what's the scenario
Here we go yo, here we go yo
So what so what so what's the scenario

Verse One: Phife Dawg

Aiyyo Bo knows this (what?) and Bo knows that (what?)
But Bo don't know jack, cause Bo can't rap
Well whaddya know, the ditto of his first up to bat
No batteries included, and no strings attached
No holds barred, no time for move fakin
Gots to get the loot so I can bring home the bacon
Brothers front, they say the Tribe can't flow
But we've been known to do the impossible like Broadway Joe so
Sleep if you want, my crew will help you get your Z's troop
But here's the real scoop
I'm all that and then some, short dark and handsome
Bust a nut inside your eye, to show you where I come from
I'm vexed, fumin, I've had it up to here
My days of payin dues are over, acknowledge me as in there (YEAH)
Head for the border, go get a taco
I'll be wreckin from the jump street, meaning from the get-go
Sit back relax and let yourself go
Don't sweat what you heard, and act like you know

Verse Two: Charlie Brown

Yes yes y'all (yes y'all!)
who got the vibe it's the Tribe y'all (Tribe y'all!)
real live y'all (live y'all!)
Inside outside come around... (who's that??) Browwwwwwwwn
Some may, I say, call me Charlie
The word is the herb and I'm deep like Bob Marley
Layback on the payback, [evolve rotate the gates?] CONTACT!
Can I get a hit? (HIT!)
Boom bit with a brother named Tip and we're ready to flip
East coast stompin, rippin and rompin
New York, North Cak-a-laka, and Compton
Checka-checka-check it out!
The loops for the troops, more bounce to the ounce
And wow how now wow how now Brown cow
We're ill till the skill gets down
For the flex, next, it's the textbook old to the new
but the rest are doo-doo
From radio, to the video, to Arsenio
Tell me! Yo, what's the scenario

Verse Three: Dinco D

(True blue!) Scooby Doo, whoopie doo
Scenario's ready yo, rates more than four
Scores for the snores that smother dancefloors
Now I go for mine, shave the seashore
Ship-shape plus Grape Apes to play tapes
Papes make grapes great for the waist
I'm an L-AH, an E-ADER, simply just a leader
Bass in this place means peace see ya later
Later? (LATER!) Later alligator
Pop goes the weasel and the herb's the inflater
So yo the D what the O, incorporated I-N-C into a flow
Funk flipped flat back first fist foul fight fight fight
Laugh yo how's that sound (ohhhhhh!)

Verse Four: Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes

It's the leader Quest vision and we got the goods here (here!)
Never on the left cause my right's my good ear (ear!)
I could give a damn about a ill subliminal
Stay away from crime SO I ain't no CRIMINAL <----
I love my young nation, groovy sensation
No time for hibernation, only elation
Don't ever try to test the water little kid
Yo Mr. Busta Rhymes, tell him what I did

I heard you rushed and rushed, AND ATTACKED
Then maybe you think you had TO SMACK
Causin rambunction, throughout the sphere
Raise the levels of the boom, inside the ear

You know I did it
So don't violate or you get violated
The hip-hop sound is well agitated
Won't ever waste no time on the played out ego
So here's Busta Rhymes with the, Scenario

Verse Five: Busta Rhymes

Watch, as I combine all the juice from the mind
Heel up, wheel up, bring it back, come rewind
Powerful impact BOOM! from the cannon
Not braggin, try to read my mind just imagine
Vo-cab-u-lary's necessary
When diggin into my library
Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!
Eating a toadstool like the one Peter Tosh-a
UH uh UH, all over the track, man
UH, pardon me, UH, as I come back
As I did it yo I had to beg your pardon
When I travel to the Sun I roll with the squadron
RRRRRROAW RRRRRRROAW like a dungeon dragon
Change your little drawers cause your pants are saggin
Try to step to this, I will, fits you in a turban
And had you smellin ripe, like some old stale urine
Chickity-choco, the chocolate chicken
The real cock diesel, for chicks they were diggin
Yo, bustin out before the Busta bust a nut the rhyme
the rhythm is in sync (UHH!) the rhymes are on time (TIME!)
Rippin up the sound just like a radio
Observe the rhyme and check out the scenario!!