It produces several hormones like thymulin and thymosin, which regulate immune cell production. It also synthesizes hormones such as insulin and melatonin.

But its central function is to produce and release powerful immune cells to help fight infection and disease.

Most experts believed, however, that the thymus’ contributions occurred in the womb and didn’t extend into adulthood.

But investigators have found that theory was wrong.

In fact, they believe the thymus may hold the secret to a lifetime of good health, thanks to a specialized kind of cell they hope to harness for future preventative treatments…

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The education of T cells

A team of Australian researchers examined thymus samples donated to the Melbourne Children’s Heart Tissue Bank from heart surgery patients up to 16 years old. They likely chose these samples because the thymus is most active in childhood.

The researchers looked at the role of gamma delta T cells within the gland and found for the first time how the organ produced these cells.

“We have large numbers of these specialized cells in our blood and tissues, which accumulate as we become adults,” says study co-author Dan Pellicci, a professor at the University of Melbourne. “Until our study, it was unclear how these cells develop in the body.

Similar to receiving an elementary, high school and college education, the T cells are trained over three stages and fully form in the thymus, Pellicci says.

“Following this education, the cells are ready to enter the rest of the body and are completely capable of fighting infections,” he adds.

Some previous studies suggested these immune cells were mainly derived in the liver and thymus during fetal development in the womb.

“Many experts assumed that after birth, the thymus played little role in the development of these cells as we age, but we now know this little unsung organ helps the body prepare for a lifetime of good health,” Pellicci says.

The hope is that through understanding their function, these T cells can be manipulated to help prevent cancer and highly infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and tuberculosis.

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The care and feeding of this important gland

It’s clear the thymus gland is a key part of our immune system. Unfortunately, the thymus tends to shrink with age, and by the time we hit the age of 65, it’s pretty much unable to produce any new T cells.

This explains why older people are at higher risk for a lot of diseases like cancer, and why they have a harder time fighting off infections.

The good news is there are a few things you can do to support it:

• Get more antioxidants. One study found that antioxidants — especially vitamin C — can protect the thymus from damaging free radicals and prevent some of that age-related thymus shrinkage.
• Cut down on wheat. Research has shown that a chemical in wheat called wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) contributes to a shrinking thymus.
• Get enough zinc. It’s the most important mineral your thymus needs to stay healthy. Correcting a zinc deficiency can prompt the thymus to grow and start generating T cells again.
• Don’t use artificial sweeteners. Studies have found artificial sweeteners like sucralose shrink the thymus gland in rats.
• Try tapping. It’s not scientifically proven (yet), but tapping your chest over your thymus gland can supposedly stimulate a sluggish immune system. Try tapping the center of your chest, below your collarbone, for 15 to 20 seconds several times per day. Hum as you do it for even better results.

Sources:

Discovery could lead to more treatments to prevent cancer and infectious diseases — ScienceDaily

A three-stage developmental pathway for human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells within the postnatal thymus — Science Immunology

What is the thymus gland? — Medical News Today

The post The little gland that’s key to a lifetime of good health appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But zinc? Kind of gets lost in the shuffle unless it’s cold and flu season. And that’s not good…

Research has shown that a zinc deficiency could be linked to high blood pressure, contribute to cataract progression, impact prostate health and is essential for communication between brain cells.

Clearly, zinc is vital to our health.

Now, a new study is offering proof that zinc protects us from two diseases that are both hard to control and potentially deadly.

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A rare genetic mutation protects against diabetes…

“We know that increasing zinc intake improves blood glucose control in people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, and people with a mutation in a key zinc transporter protein have reduced risk of diabetes” says Shek Man Chim, principal scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in New York and the study’s first author.

But just how zinc influences systemic blood glucose levels and diabetes risk was unclear.

So, to explore that, researchers tested loss-of-function mutations from genetic sequence data collected from a large population of participants of European ancestry who took part in the Regeneron Genetics Center-Geisinger Health System DiscovEHR study.

They were able to identify a rare mutation in a zinc transporter protein known as SLC39A5 that’s associated with increased circulating zinc levels.

Then using health data that included 62,000 cases of diabetes and 518,000 healthy controls, they confirmed that circulating zinc levels in carriers of the SLC39A5 loss-of-function mutation were elevated and indeed associated with a reduced risk of diabetes.

Then the news got better…

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Because diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) often go hand in hand, the researchers decided to explore if loss of SLC39A5 afforded any liver protection. For this, they turned to mice…

Genetically engineered mice lacking the zinc transporter protein had elevated blood and tissue levels of zinc, as anticipated. In addition, they had less fat buildup in their livers and fewer blood markers of liver damage.

Even after being fed a high-fat, high-fructose diet, these mice had less fat accumulation in the liver and improved insulin sensitivity compared to control mice. So the researchers took it a step further…

Once again, they fed mice a high-fat diet, this time adding a high-cholesterol element to it to induce non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a more severe liver inflammation that can develop following NAFLD and lead to fibrosis.

As expected, the control mice had increased markers indicating liver damage and liver fibrosis. However, the mice lacking SLC39A5 not only had reduced liver damage markers and fasting blood sugar glucose, but improvements in liver inflammation and fibrosis.

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How are YOUR zinc levels?

According to Senior author Harikiran Nistala, currently Head of Functional Genomics at Alkermes Inc, Waltham, U.S., “Our observations suggest that blocking SLC39A5 could be a potential therapeutic avenue for type 2 diabetes and other indications where zinc supplementation alone is inadequate.” 

Depending on your diet, lifestyle, age, or health problems, you may not be getting enough zinc.

Groups at risk of a zinc deficiency include:

• People 65 years or older
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• People with anorexia
• People with ongoing diarrhea
• People with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• People with sickle cell anemia
• People with chronic renal disease
• Alcoholics
• People taking certain medications (like tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics, bisphosphonates, penicillamine, diethylenetriamine pentaacetate, the anticonvulsant sodium valproate and diuretics).

Also, be aware that having a marginal zinc deficiency can also be a problem. If your wounds are slow to heal, if you have dermatitis, hair loss, or night blindness, these could also be signs that your zinc levels are heading in the wrong direction.

If you’re at all concerned that you might not be getting enough zinc, it’s simple enough to find out.

Get yourself a bottle of liquid zinc sulfate at your local health food store. Then do this easy, at-home test to see if you’re mildly deficient, or if you should be seeing a doctor or dietitian to get your zinc levels up.

If you supplement, follow the manufacturer’s instruction on serving amount, unless advised by a physician to take a different amount.

Sources:

Scientists reveal mechanistic link between zinc levels and diabetes — Eureka Alert

Genetic inactivation of zinc transporter SLC39A5 improves liver function and hyperglycemia in obesogenic settings — eLife

The post Zinc link to diabetes may lead to new therapies appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And based on some research I’ve been doing, I’ve requested a few additional blood tests, specifically related to my thyroid levels.

I’ve discovered that about one woman in five over the age of 60 — that’s a full 20 percent of us — have some sort of thyroid problem.

And, if you’re over 75, whether male or female, you have that same 20 percent chance of having hypothyroidism, or low levels of thyroid hormones.

In women, hypothyroidism is often misdiagnosed as either depression or menopausal symptoms.

But there’s one symptom I’ve just learned about, and it’s the one that’s finally made me ask for those additional blood tests. Once you hear about it, you might want to get tested, too…

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Signs of low thyroid levels

Your thyroid regulates a lot in your body. And I do mean a lot.

It regulates the production of energy throughout your body. That includes your heart, brain, skin and bowels. It also regulates body temperature.

Clearly, a lot can go wrong if your thyroid isn’t working correctly.

Yet the symptoms of low thyroid hormones are often mistaken for other complaints, especially in post-menopausal women, who are more likely to have hypothyroidism, as mentioned above.

These symptoms include depression, fatigue, constipation, unexplained weight gain, “brain fog,” and feeling cold all the time.

But it’s your feet that might give you your first sign that something is wrong with your thyroid.

What hypothyroidism does to your feet

If you have three or more of the following symptoms, it’s worth getting your thyroid levels checked.

• Dry, flaky, cracked feet (especially the heels) with calluses
• Itchy feet
• Cold feet
• Swollen feet
• Foot pain and cramping
• Foot infections
• Smelly feet
• Yellow soles
• Toenail changes

Getting the right tests for hypothyroidism

There are two different thyroid tests available, and it’s important that you get both.

Most doctors will order a test of your TSH levels if they suspect a thyroid issue.

But a TSH test only tells you how well your pituitary gland is “talking” to your thyroid, telling it when more of the thyroid hormone T4 is needed.

It doesn’t measure actual levels of T4.

There are blood tests available that give a more complete picture of how well the thyroid is producing T4, how well that T4 is being converted to T3 (which does the “heavy” work) and whether there are anti-thyroid antibodies present.

To get a complete, accurate picture, you’ll want the test that measures your T4 levels.

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How you can keep your thyroid healthy

Research shows that exposure to BPA and phthalates cause low thyroid hormone levels. You’ll want to avoid canned foods; the linings of most cans contain BPA. And read product labels carefully to check for these chemicals.

Eating foods high in B vitamins, selenium, iodine, vitamin D and zinc will support a healthy thyroid. Here’s a guide to foods that are rich in these thyroid-supporting nutrients, as well as four foods you should do your best to avoid.

Step out with a healthier thyroid — your feet will thank you!

Sources:

Are Your Feet Warning You of a Thyroid Problem? — Care Plus

10 your feet are warning you about a thyroid problem — Hypothyroid Mom

The post Is your thyroid OK? Check your feet appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

We’ve all heard it. But, is sitting at home eating chicken noodle soup all you can do to get over the common cold?

That could feel like torture considering the typically takes 7 to 10 days to run its course.

I don’t know about you, but that’s way too long to suffer through body aches, a runny nose and sinus congestion, not to mention a hacking cough.

Thankfully, according to scientific research, there’s something else you can do to increase your chances of getting well faster.

In fact, you could triple your recovery time…

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Increases recovery rate by three times

Scientists at the University of Helsinki looked at the results of three separate controlled trials to determine whether using zinc lozenges could help boost recovery from the common cold.

In the trials, patients suffering from a cold were given zinc lozenges, with a dose of zinc between 80 to 92 mg/day or a placebo.

Here’s what they found…

Using zinc acetate lozenges increased the rate of recovery from the common cold by three times. In fact, on the fifth day after beginning using the lozenges, 70 percent of the zinc lozenges patients had recovered compared with just 27 percent of the placebo patients.

The zinc lozenges were so effective that the researchers said, “Given the strong evidence of efficacy and the low risk of adverse effects, common cold patients may already be encouraged to try zinc acetate lozenges not exceeding 100 mg of elemental zinc per day for treating their colds.”

Finding the right lozenges

The researchers did however warn that many of the zinc lozenges on the market appear to have either zinc doses that are too low or may contain substances that bind zinc ions, such as citric acid, making them less effective.

The optimal dose in the study was 80 – 92 mg/day — and was free of citric acid.

Other things you can do to recover more quickly include:

• Stay hydrated – Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration.
• Get your rest – When you’re sick, the best thing you can do is to let your body get the rest it needs to heal.
• Add moisture to the air – A cool mist vaporizer or humidifier can add moisture to your home to soothe your nasal passages and help loosen congestion.
• Combat stuffiness – Over-the-counter saline nasal drops and sprays can help relieve that stuffiness and congestion. Also, consider the superfood enzyme that “dissolves” sinus pain and pressure.
• Have a spoonful of honey – This sweet treat can coat your throat and soothe a cough.
• Take a hot shower – Breathing in steam may moisten a scratchy throat and nose, as well as loosen your congestion.
• Take vitamin C – Studies have shown that taking at least one gram and even up to six to eight grams of vitamin C per day can help you get over that cold faster.

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To avoid catching a cold altogether, consider keeping your vitamin D levels up all year long. Just be sure you are taking the most effective kind…

Recent research found vitamin D3 had a modifying effect on the immune system that could fortify the body against viral and bacterial diseases. The same could not be said for vitamin D2.

Now one thing to note about the zinc study… The people in the study took amounts of zinc higher than the recommended daily allowance, which, in the US, is 11 mg/day for men and 8 mg/day for women. But according to the researchers, it’s highly unlikely that 80-92 mg/day of zinc for one to two weeks, starting very soon after the onset of the first cold symptoms, might lead to long-term adverse effects. None of the three analyzed zinc lozenge studies observed serious adverse effects of zinc.

The post Kick the common cold 3xs faster appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Scientists have long known that people whose zinc levels are too low have few to no infection-fighting T-cells. And the thymus (a gland located in the chest between the lungs), a key organ of the immune system for generating those T-cells, starts to shrink.

But when these people correct their zinc deficiency, their thymuses grow and start generating T-cells again.

Who is most at risk for zinc deficiency? People over 60 and blood cancer patients — of whom many are also over the age of 60.

Before receiving a blood stem cell transplant, patients with blood cancers get treatments that kill off remaining cancer cells but wipe out their own bone marrow in the process. These treatments, as well as the transplant itself, increase the risk of zinc deficiency.

But, while we’ve known for a while that zinc is necessary for a healthy immune system, it’s not been clear exactly how the trace mineral works.

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A boost of zinc improves immune cell recovery

Scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Hutch) have been able to learn more about zinc’s role in immune system function…

Dr. Lorenzo Iovino, the study’s first author, who’s also a blood stem cell transplant physician, had shown in a previous study that zinc could boost immune recovery in patients undergoing stem-cell transplants. But that study didn’t fully explain why zinc was helping.

This time, using mice, the researchers found that when the thymuses of mice were deprived of dietary zinc for as little as three weeks, the glands shrink and produce fewer mature T-cells. The study also showed that without zinc, T-cells cannot fully mature.

By contrast, mice that received extra zinc for three weeks prior to radiation treatment saw a better rebound in T-cell numbers than mice that received a standard amount of dietary zinc. The effects were similar in a mouse model of a blood stem cell transplant.

Dr. Iovino also discovered that it was the change in zinc levels around cells that release a key regenerative factor that seemed to kick off the thymus’ renewal processes.

Cells use a molecule called GPR39 to sense a change in external zinc, and Iovino found that an experimental compound that mimics rising external zinc levels by stimulating GPR39 could also promote renewal factor release and thymic regeneration.

“What we think is going on is, as you give zinc supplementation, that gets accumulated within the developing T-cells. It gets stored and stored and stored, then the damage comes along and the zinc is released,” said senior author Dr. Jarrod Dudakov, an immunologist at Fred Hutch.

“Now you have more zinc than you normally would, and it can instigate this regenerative pathway. With the experimental compound, we can just directly target GPR39 and basically get the same effect without any of that pretreatment.”

The research team plans to further explore the clinical potential of compounds that mimic zinc’s immune-boosting effects after acute immune damage. They’re also looking at whether these treatments could help slow the chronic immune system decline that comes with aging.

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Getting the right balance of zinc for your immune system

While this study makes clear why zinc is so important for immunity, the researchers caution people not to go out and start mega-dosing with the mineral.

“We’re not saying zinc is a panacea,” Iovino notes. “There can be serious reactions due to intoxication and accumulation. We would not recommend taking zinc randomly.”

Scientists and doctors are known to express caution about supplementing nutrients. One reason for that is if an experimental compound, as was found in this study to mimic zinc’s effects, can replicate what a natural nutrient does — well, there’s a clear path for the development of a new pharmaceutical.

However, sensible supplementing is safe — and may be necessary, especially if you’re older than 60, or you have an irritable bowel disease or other condition that makes it more difficult to absorb nutrients.

Make sure you look for one containing chelated zinc or zinc chelate, which offers the best absorption. The recommended daily dosage of zinc is between 15 mg and 40 mg. Any more than 40 mg of daily zinc can cause unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, anemia and headaches. It can also impair your immune function.

Foods that contain the mineral include shellfish, lean beef, pork chops and loin, nuts, dark chicken meat, kidney beans, flounder and eggs. Just six medium-sized oysters provide 32 mg of zinc compared to just 4.8 mg in a 3.5-ounce serving of ground beef.

Sources:

Burst of accumulated zinc shows how the mineral boosts immune function, suggesting ways to improve health — Science Daily

How zinc boosts the immune system — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Activation of the Zinc-sensing receptor GPR39 promotes T cell reconstitution after hematopoietic cell transplant in mice — Blood

The post How a zinc ‘burst’ activates the immune system appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

This means that while having out of control blood pressure puts you at high risk for heart problems, including heart attack and stroke, it’s also a factor that can be controlled to lower your risk.

And while you may have already heard numerous recommendations on how to do that, like cutting back on salt and getting your exercise, there’s a brand new one that was just discovered. And it may be the easiest path to better blood pressure ever discovered.

Minerals and your blood pressure

According to scientists, one of the keys to improving blood pressure is understanding the importance of minerals in how the cells in your arteries and blood vessels work.

You see, each and every one of your body’s functions depend on the ability of your arteries to channel oxygen-rich blood to where it’s needed. And to complete this process, it’s vital that the smooth muscle cells within these vessels work to direct how fast or slow the blood gets to each destination.

As this smooth muscle contracts, your arteries narrow and your blood pressure goes up. Then as the muscle relaxes, your artery expands and your blood pressure drops.

Studies going back over six decades have proven that the levels of two minerals — calcium and potassium — in the muscle surrounding your blood vessels control how they expand and contract.

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Here’s how it works…

While potassium regulates calcium in the smooth muscle, the calcium itself is responsible for causing the narrowing of the arteries and veins that elevate blood pressure and restrict blood flow.

To top it off, other cells that surround the blood vessel, including endothelial cells and sensory nerves, also regulate the calcium and potassium within the muscle of the artery. And in turn, they’re actually regulated by the levels of these minerals.

It’s a system that works as a loop.

An underappreciated mineral that relaxes blood vessels

However, while the importance of potassium and calcium for blood pressure is well-established, there’s another mineral that has up until now been underappreciated in the process — zinc.

But that’s all changed thanks to a new study published in Nature Communications.

Funny thing is, the study wasn’t actually looking for a way to improve blood pressure at all…

“Our discovery that zinc is also important was serendipitous because we’d been researching the brain, not blood pressure,” said lead author Ashenafi Betrie, Ph.D., of the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and The University of Melbourne in Australia.

 “We were investigating the impact of zinc-based drugs on brain function in Alzheimer’s disease when we noticed a pronounced and unexpected decrease in blood pressure in mouse models treated with the drugs.”

But while they were looking for a way to improve brain function with zinc, what they found was the fact that zinc coordinates action within sensory nerves, endothelial cells and the muscle of arteries.

This triggers lower calcium levels in the muscle of the blood vessel, making the vessel relax, decreasing blood pressure and increasing blood flow.

According to the team, zinc essentially has the opposite effect of calcium on blood flow and pressure.

How to get your zinc

Previous studies have shown that people with lower zinc levels are more likely to be hypertensive, so now we are getting closer to understanding why.

So, if you want better blood pressure, it’s time to make sure you’re getting enough zinc.

First, start by taking this at-home test for zinc deficiency.

Next, consider adding in a zinc supplement daily or adding more zinc-rich foods to your diet, like shellfish, legumes, dairy and eggs.

The Mayo Clinic recommends a daily amount of zinc equal to 8 milligrams (mg) for women and 11 mg for adult men. They also suggest that if you supplement zinc, don’t take it with copper, iron or phosphorus supplements at the same time. Space them 2 hours apart to get the full benefit from each dietary supplement.

A great bonus of increasing your zinc levels beyond reducing your blood pressure could be powerful virus protection — since low levels of zinc have been linked to a higher risk of death from Covid-19.

Sources:

Unexpected discovery opens a new way to regulate blood pressure — EurekAlert!

The post Can zinc lower blood pressure? appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Pretty soon, people around you will start dropping like flies. Your sister, your coworker, your husband — they’ll all be laying limply on the couch with dirty tissues piled on their stomach. And you’ll be crossing your fingers that whatever bug brought them down won’t do the same to you.

Hopefully, you make it through this treacherous season unscathed. But chances are, you could end up breathing through your mouth for a week while one of this season’s big bad viruses makes itself at home in your nasal passages. That’s why I have some important advice to share…

Get enough zinc.

Although it’s not as common in the U.S., more than 2 billion people worldwide have a zinc deficiency. And it puts their immune system at a major disadvantage. People with zinc deficiency are much more likely to develop all sorts of infections.

Related: How to get over your cold quick and keep from spreading it

Research even shows that getting enough zinc can make colds less severe and keep them from lasting so long. But do you know the biggest advantage of getting plenty of zinc this time of year?

It protects you from one of the most dangerous cold and flu season pitfalls — pneumonia.

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Zinc is the best defense against pneumonia bacteria

Being stuck at home for a week with a sore throat, cough, stuffy nose and headache is bad enough. But even when you think you’re on the upswing, a very real threat could swoop in and make things much worse — Streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacteria that causes pneumonia.

Over 900,000 Americans end up with pneumonia every year, usually after contracting a cold or flu bug. And it could be because their zinc levels are low…

A new study from researchers at the University of Melbourne shows just how important zinc is for fighting off those nasty pneumonia-causing bacteria.

In the study, researchers examined how zinc intake affected Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in mice. Here’s what they found: Mice who didn’t get enough zinc succumbed to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection up to three times faster. Why?

Well, researchers used state-of-the-art imaging techniques to watch as the immune system sent zinc to infection sites to fight Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. So not having enough zinc, meant not killing as much bacteria. And not killing those bacteria means they’re able to propagate, thrive and make you very, very sick.

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The ABCs of getting enough zinc

So, now do you see why getting enough zinc is oh-so important during cold and flu season? The only question left is… how much zinc do you really need?

The National Institutes of Health says adult men should get 11 mg of zinc per day and adult women should get 8 mg of zinc per day. The highest amount of zinc anyone can take without experiencing negative side effects or zinc toxicity is 40 mg per day (and there are times when you may want to take extra, like when you feel a bug coming on).

Also, keep in mind, certain groups have a higher risk of zinc deficiency, like older adults, vegetarians, people with gastrointestinal diseases and pregnant or lactating women. So, if you fall into one of these categories, you’ll want to pay extra attention to your zinc levels. You may even need to take a supplement.

For most of us, though, it’s easy to get all the zinc we need from food. Here are the best zinc-filled foods to fuel your immune system:

• Spinach
• Flax seeds
• Beef
• Pumpkin seeds
• Seafood like shrimp, oysters, and crab
• Chicken
• Pork
• Chickpeas
• Cashews
• Oatmeal
• Yogurt
• Cheese

Sources:

1. Dietary zinc protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection — MedicalXpress
2. Dietary zinc and the control of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection — PLOS Pathogens
3. Zinc for the common cold—not if, but when — The Journal of Family Practice
4. How to treat a cold or flu at home — Medical News Today
5. What Causes Pneumonia? — American Lung Association
6. Zinc — National Institutes of Health

The post Your best defense against pneumonia this cold and flu season appeared first on Easy Health Options®.