Osteokit Plus Combi Kit Health Feed

Causes:-
Inadequate intake of zinc rich foods like meat, shell fish, liver gelatin, beans, rice, bread, cereals lentils etc. 
Incomplete absorption of zinc from the food due to many barrier likes presence of phytic acid in the diet hampers.

Symptoms:-
- Reduced appetite
- Retarded growth. 
- Atrophy (shrinkage) of sexual organs. 
- Hair loss
- Diarrhea
- Keratosis (desquamation) of tongue
- Skin affections. 
- Dwarfism
- Infertility
- Delayed healing of wounds
- Decreased taste acuity

Consume two to three servings of these zinc foods daily to support optimal zinc levels.

1. Lamb: 3 ounces: 6.7 milligrams (45 percent dv)

Lamb is a rich source of many vitamins minerals. In addition to zinc, lamb contains vitamin b12, riboflavin, selenium, niacin, phosphorus and iron. 

2. Pumpkin seeds: 1 cup: 6.6 milligrams (44 percent dv)

Pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil are able to reduce the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women, according to research published in nutrition and cancer. (2) pumpkin seeds are also good for prostate health, and they promote your mental health.

3. Grass-fed beef: 100 grams: 4.5 milligrams (30 percent dv)

Grass-fed beef nutrition includes omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid, a powerful polyunsaturated fatty acid that has been shown to help fight cancer, reduce the risk of heart disease, improve blood sugar, discourage weight gain and build muscle. 

4. Chickpeas (garbanzo beans): 1 cup: 2.5 milligras (17 percent dv)

Chickpeas, like all legumes, are a form of complex carbohydrates that the body is able to slowly digest and use for energy. Chickpeas increase satiety and help with weight loss. (4) they also improve digestion by quickly moving foods through the digestive tract.

5. Cocoa powder: 1 ounce: 1.9 milligrams (13 percent dv)

Cocoa powder is a good source of two flavonoids, epicatechin and catechin, which function as antioxidants that help prevent inflammation and disease. Because of the presence of flavonoids in cocoa powder, it helps improve blood flow and lower blood pressure too. 

6. Cashews: 1 ounce: 1.6 milligrams (11 percent dv)

Cashews are rich in unsaturated fatty acids and high in protein. Cashews nutrition helps fight heart disease, reduce inflammation, promote bone health and support healthy brain function. Plus, these nuts help with weight loss or maintenance because they make you feel fuller and curb food cravings. 

7. Kefir or yogurt: 1 cup: 1.4 milligrams (10 percent dv) (values vary)

Kefir and yogurt are cultured dairy products that serve as probiotic foods. Both kefir and probiotic yogurt support healthy digestion, boost the immune system, promote cardiovascular health and regulate your mood. 

8. Mushrooms: 1 cup: 1.4 milligrams (9 percent dv)

Proven mushroom nutrition benefits include the ability to boost immunity due to its antioxidant activities, reduce inflammation, fight cancer, protect your heart and improve brain function. 

9. Spinach: 1 cup: 1.4 milligrams (9 percent dv)

Spinach is one of the most nutrient-dense foods in existence. It contains special protective carotenoids that have been linked with decreasing the risk of many diseases, including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases and even cancer. 

10. Chicken: 100 grams: 1 milligram (7 percent dv)

In addition to the zinc present in chicken, it’s also a good source of b vitamins, including vitamin b12, niacin, vitamin b6 and pantothenic acid. The vitamin b12 in chicken helps maintain energy levels, boost mood, maintain heart health and boost skin health.

Causes:

• Diet poor in zinc - inadequate intake of zinc rich foods like meat, shell fish, liver gelatin, beans, rice, bread, cereals lentils etc.
• Strict vegetarians: their main foods are grains and legumes which are high in phytic acid and they hamper the absorption of zinc from the food.
• Malabsorption syndrome.
• Chron`s disease / ulcerative colitis.
• Chronic liver disease.
• Chronic renal disease.
• Sickle cell disease.
• Diabetes.
• Malignancies.
• Smoking and high alcohol consumption.
• Elderly are more prone to deficiency.

Sign and symptoms:

• Reduced appetite.
• Retarded growth.
• Atrophy (shrinkage) of sexual organs.
• Loss of hair.
• Diarrhea.
• Repiratory tract infection.
• Keratosis (desquamation) of tongue.
• Skin affections.
• Dwarfism.
• Cognitive impairment.
• Infertility- low sperm count.
• Delayed healing of wounds.
• Decreased taste acuity.
• Deficiency during pregnancy can cause abnormal labor and retarded fetal growth.
• Increased risk of infection.

Dietary management:
Consume:
Consume foods rich in zinc: zinc is present in wide variety of foods especially along with proteins. Vegetarian diet contains less zinc compared to meat based diet. Best sources of zinc are -

• Beef, crabmeat, oysters, lamb, pork, turkey, salmon, shellfish, chicken, clams, lobster, milk, yoghurt and cheese cheddar.
• Whole wheat bread, oatmeal, brown rice, spinach, lentils, beans, lima beans, rye bread, peas and baked potatoes. Meat, eggs and seafood.
• Other sources of zinc are - green leafy vegetables, sea plants, japanese sea plants, yeast, nuts - cashews, almonds and peanuts, seeds - sesame and pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are one of the concentrated sources of zinc in vegetarian food.
• Only 20% of the zinc present in diet is absorbed by our body, dietary fibers and phytic acid present in food inhibits absorption of zinc. Phytic acid and fiber are fond in foods like - bran, whole grain cereals, pulses and nuts.
• Cooking process can reduce the effects of phytic acid and fibers on the absorption of zinc.
• Ferment whole grains as enzymatic actions of yeast reduces the levels of phytic acid and thus absorption of zinc is adequate.

Calcium is an essential mineral in our diet, and makes up roughly 2% of an adult’s body weight. It is a critical aspect of our bone growth, development and maintenance throughout our entire lives, which is why a deficiency of this mineral is such a serious problem. Fortunately, there are many different calcium supplements on the market to ensure that we get the recommended amount of calcium that our body needs to function and support itself properly.

What are calcium supplements?

• Calcium supplements are ways to get your daily recommended amount of calcium up to its proper levels – roughly 1, 000-1, 200 milligrams per day for men and women. These calcium supplements are tablets or pills with concentrated levels of calcium, and tend to come in two forms: calcium carbonate and calcium citrate.
• Calcium carbonate is the more concentratedof the two, with each pill composed of roughly 40% calcium, but it requires stomach acid to be dissolved and absorbed by the body. Therefore, these pills need to be eaten with your meals.
• Calcium citrate is weaker, providing only 20% calcium in each pill, but they can be taken on an empty stomach, as they do not require stomach acid to be dissolved. Elderly patients suffering from calcium deficiency more commonly use calcium citrate, as stomach acid production slows down as we age.
• Since calcium can only be absorbed and used in small amounts by the body, most calcium supplements range from 150-500 milligrams and are taken 1-2 times per day, depending on how poor your calcium levels are, and how much calcium your typical diet includes. Many supplements also include other minerals in which people are commonly deficient, such as magnesium and vitamin d.
• Speak with your doctor about which of the following calcium supplements may be best for you.

List of calcium supplements:

1. Calcium carbonate

Tums 500os-cal 500caltrate 600viactiv calcium chewsgnc calcium complete

2. Calcium citrate

Cluebonnet calcium citrate magnesium and vitamin d3rainbow light mini-tabletsswanson calcium citrate and vitamin dsolgar calcium citratetwinlab calcium citrate caps

Why do you need calcium?

As mentioned earlier, calcium is required by the body for bone mineral density, and a deficiency in this mineral will increase the risk of osteoporosis, as well as osteopenia. Some of the common symptoms of calcium deficiency include fainting, muscle weakness, psoriasis, brittle nails, tooth decay, seizures, itching, problems swallowing and numbness in the fingers and toes.

Aside from bone strength and durability, calcium is also needed by the body for proper nerve communication and function, as well as for the contraction of muscles throughout the body. Calcium plays a role in protecting cardiac muscle, controlling blood pressure, strengthening the teeth and gums, transporting nutrients throughout the body and keeping the ph balance of the body in line.

Clearly, deficiencies in this important mineral must be taken seriously, due to their comprehensive effects on health.

Food sources of calcium

While supplements are always available to increase your daily intake of calcium, there are also many calcium-rich foods that are easy to incorporate into your daily diet.

Kaleyogurtcheesebok choysardineskefirwatercressfigsclamsgreen beanssesame seeds oranges almonds

Benefits of calcium supplements

Calcium supplements can be very effective for improving bone strength, particularly as you age, after a major injury, illness or surgery, or if you are already at high risk for osteoporosis (due to contributing health factors). These supplements can also help in the prevention of arthritis and to help maintain your weight. Furthermore, since so many calcium supplements include magnesium, vitamin d and other commonly deficient vitamins, use of these nutritional supplements can help your body in many other ways too!

Side effects of calcium supplements

The regular use of calcium supplements can have certain negative side effects, such as constipation, excess gas, nausea, irregular heartbeat, muscle pain, dry mouth, headaches or dizziness. These are mainly experienced when you suffer from hypercalcemia, which means your body is taking in too much calcium. When calcium is taken in large concentrations, the body is unable to process all of it at once, so it could begin depositing it in the wrong places.

This sort of excessive calcium in the body can lead to problems with the kidneys, muscles, stomach, bones and even the brain, causing irritability and even depression. If you experience ongoing symptoms of sore muscles and joints, pain in your back and spine, decreased appetite or excessive urination, you are likely suffering from too much calcium.

Speak to your doctor or nutritionist before adding calcium supplements to your daily intake; if your diet already accounts for the daily recommended amount of calcium, there is no need to take supplements.

Things to consider while taking calcium supplements

Before you choose to take calcium supplements, there are a few things to consider, namely your age, diet, pre-existing medical conditions and prescribed medications.

1. Age: depending on how old you are, as well as your gender, you may require more or less calcium. Women under 50 and men under 70 only require 1, 000 milligrams a day, where as women over 50 and men over 70 require approximately 1, 200 milligrams per day. As your age changes, if your diet doesn’t, you may want to consider supplementing with calcium to keep your bones strong.

2. Diet: while there are many different foods that can deliver calcium, certain dietary choices and styles may inherently keep your calcium content low. Vegans tend to lack calcium, as they don’t include dairy products in their diet, which is a great and consistent source of calcium. Furthermore, people who consume foods that are high in protein or sodium tend to lose more calcium through urination, which can lead to osteoporosis, even if your intake of calcium seems acceptable.

3. Medical conditions: certain diseases and conditions demand more calcium from the body, prevent calcium absorption, or cause excessive calcium loss. If you have suffer from chronic inflammation, crohn’s disease or celiac disease, the condition may be preventing calcium absorption in the gut, and calcium supplements may be a good thing. However, if you are at high risk for kidney stones or prostate cancer, high levels of calcium could heighten that risk.

4. Medications: the use of corticosteroids is quite common for chronic disease, and this can lower the body’s ability to absorb calcium. Furthermore, if you are taking antibiotics, it can interfere with how your body takes in calcium, so supplements may be required.

5. Other mineral deficiencies: some of the body’s receptors for nutrients are shared, so calcium, iron and zinc are often in competition in the gut to be absorbed and used. If you have other mineral deficiencies, it may be wise to space out your supplements, rather than taking them all at once, so that your body can properly process each of them.