Many people these days are looking for natural solutions for their health care needs in the form of holistic therapies and alternative medicine. Holistic therapies are those that look at the body as a whole unit and treat certain areas in certain ways with the intent of enhancing the overall health of the person. Alternative medicine is a blanket term that is often used to refer to holistic therapies, particularly the more mainstream, popularly used holistic therapies such as chiropractic, acupuncture, or ayurveda.

As a chiropractor, I am a big fan of using holistic therapies and alternative medicine whenever possible. Drugs and surgery should always be used as a last option. That is why we have made it our mission to continually research and review different holistic therapies so we can give you the information you need to make the best decisions about your health care.

There are many different forms of holistic and alternative medicine available out there. It can sometimes be difficult to know just exactly what your alternative options are to traditional medicine. If you have questions, ask me. I’m here to help my patients as well as my email and blog subscribers.

And in case you didn’t know, I do offer a variety of holistic therapies in my office: chiropractic, massage, essential oils, cutting edge nutrition, and more. I also have a network of practitioners from different disciplines to whom I can refer to when necessary.

If you’re concerned about your health and wellness, and would like to discuss your alternative therapy options, I invite you to call or email me for more information.

Call: (707) 776-6932 
or  Email: jennifer@theposturechiropractor.com

Dr. Jennifer Price, DC
115 Liberty St, Ste 8
Petaluma CA 94954

Zinc is a nutrient that most people are mildly deficient in at all times. The primary dietary source of zinc is meat, so zinc deficiency is especially found in vegetarians, adolescents and the elderly. Zinc is used by at least 50 different enzymes in the body so it has widespread functions.

Symptoms of Zinc Deficiency

-poor wound healing
-poor taste and smell
-anosmia  (loss of sense of smell or altered sense of smell)
-dysgeusia (loss or diminished sense of taste)
-anorexia
-retarded growth and sexual maturation in children
-impotence and infertility
-prostate hypertrophy (BPH)
-increased tendency to get infections (if you have a cold, take zinc to help get over it faster)
-rash (notice type and location!)
-get peripheral (especially hands and lower legs) eczema or seborrheic dermatitis
-may show up on various parts of the face
-tremor
-various types of emotional problems
-nyctalopia (night blindness)
-to convert Vitamin A to its active form requires zinc
-white spots on the nails
    - Note: you will also get this from a whack on the nail so rule out trauma first and look for it to be in different locations on several nails (this is less likely to be trauma)

The symptoms listed above are found with Zinc deficiency, but are not exclusively diagnostic of a deficiency. Always seek the guidance of your primary health care provider if you suspect you may be suffering with a deficiency.

Food Sources of Zinc

  Supplementation is always an option. However, as a general rule, it is always best to look for vitamins and nutrients in their natural dietary form within food. Zinc is found primarily in meat sources. The following are good food sources of Zinc:

Oysters, Beef, Chicken giblets, Crab, Lamb, Duck

If your diet is not rich in these foods, you should consider taking a daily supplement. Prevent deficiency and ensure you’re getting Zinc through diet and supplements!

Photo Credit: © Robert Lerich | Dreamstime Stock Photos