Mod Monday Mood

The Next Best Thing to Being There…

Looking for something different to do this week? Check out these streaming programs that take you into the private spaces and historic places that make Palm Springs a true “Mecca of Modernism.”

Architectural Driving Tour of Palm Springs: a fun and informative “top down” architectural tour of Palm Springs from a 1966 convertible Mustang. Get a sneak peek inside a few of the best MCM homes in town! (45 min):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4VaTZdv1cM&feature=youtu.be

The popular video series returns with a brand-new edition, just for the Modernism Week Online Experience!

Come inside some of Palm Springs’ most significant homes. The video series will take you into *5 fabulous Palm Springs homes, where you will walk through the interiors, gardens and grounds and see what makes Palm Springs desert architecture and lifestyle unique. You’ll learn about important architectural and design details, unique furnishings and meet the homeowners or other special guests knowledgable about the property. Your host will be the curator of the selected homes, Modernism Week Board Member Maureen Erbe.

*The houses include The Morse Residence (by Hal Levitt, 1961), The Cahuilla Hills House by O’Donnell + Escalante (by Lance O’Donnell, 2009), The Southridge Glass House (by William Cody, 1963), Trina Turk’s Ship of the Desert (by Erle Webster and Adrian Wilson, 1936), and Martyn Lawrence Bullard’s Villa Grigio (by James McNaughton, 1963). Special thanks to presenting sponsor Dunn-Edwards.

The homes will be located in various neighborhoods in Palm Springs, all with unique architectural character and featuring a variety of architectural styles.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor Dunn-Edwards Paints. Cost: $45 – A digital keepsake tour program is included with your ticket purchase.

The organizer of this program is Modernism Week. This program is streaming through March 31, 2021.

Check out the 53 minute sneak peek below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ySHDRXTHK8&feature=youtu.be

Previous Post on one of my Modernism home tours (a peek behind the hedges):

https://girlwhowouldbeking.com/2017/02/22/lifestyle-a-peek-behind-the-hedges/

Health + LifeStyle

Sunday Supplement: Humic and Fulvic Acids

I kept the best for last.

Turns out that I’m not quite finished with my supplemental Covid combatants. Also recognized as supplement “warriors” in our natural fight against deadly viruses.

If you haven’t heard of Humic and Fulvic Acid before, don’t worry, you’re not alone, however these organic acids—millions of years in the making—happen to be some of nature’s most powerful immune allies.

Whether or not you have already gotten, or are planning to get the Covid mRNA vaccine (which some experts still consider an experimental gene therapy) you might want to consider taking extra immune boosting/modulating supplements. After all, what’s the worst that could happen? You may actually get healthier!? And besides, it’s next to impossible to get all these nutrients from food alone. As the father of modern medicine (Hippocrates) once said; Let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food.

Humic and fulvic acid are very rare deposits found in a handful of locations around the globe, that were once thriving organic matter (think ancient tropical rain forests). The decomposed organic matter from this prehistoric vegetation is called humic deposits (primarily comprised of Humic and Fulvic Acid). Instead of turning into coal and oil, humic deposits formed because they weren’t exposed to the same tremendous pressures, and were much closer to the surface where there was enough microbial activity to interact with. Humic and fulvic acids contain all the genetic information from the plants they come from.

So what does all this have to do with your immunity?

Recent studies indicate that humic and fulvic acids stimulate the production of T-lymphocytes and white blood cells (neutrophils), thus enhancing immune system function. By increasing T-cell and white blood cells, humic and fulvic acid may be able to significantly reduce your risk of viral infections.

A compromised or weakened immune system means the body has fewer T-cells and white blood cells to find and eliminate potential threats. T-cells, also known as T-lymphocytes, play a vital role in defending your body against common diseases. T-cells are actually attacked by viruses, which disables the immune system, leaving it vulnerable to common colds, flus and bacterial infections. So in reality, victims of many viral diseases rarely die from the disease itself but more from the vulnerability of an immune system that is left exposed to opportunistic agents.

Humic and Fulvic Acids – the Immune Connection

Humic and fulvic acids are comprised of powerful biochemicals, supercharged antioxidants (more powerful than anything ever seen before), vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, probiotics, prebiotics and carbon. Numerous studies show that humic and fulvic acids have the ability to help modulate our immune system, protect the body from fungal and bacterial infections, lower excess inflammation, increase the absorption of beneficial nutrients, help support optimal detoxification—especially where heavy metals are concerned, support cellular energy and even block viruses.

The most important thing to understand is that humic and fulvic acids are completely natural, are the end breakdown products from plant material, and are 100% organic in nature – even though they contain most, if not all the trace minerals. By consuming natural, organically-bound minerals, the body is able to recognize them as a food source and instantly utilize them to enhance all cell life.

Due to the rarity and multitude of these organically-bound trace minerals, consuming a humic and fulvic acid supplement purely for the organic trace minerals, would be reason enough, but as mentioned above, there are so many more reasons to consume humic and fulvic acids.

So as you can see, a viable humic and fulvic acid supplement can prove to be most useful as a strong preventative agent, as well as a powerful but safe therapeutic one. In a world where we are bombarded by viruses, microbes, fungi and food that is all but void of nutrients essential to health, humic and fulvic acids may just be what the body has been screaming out for.

My recommendation is an award-winning (2018 and 2019 Natural Product-of-the-Year) Canadian product (I take myself) called LeafSource® (see below).

For more information on LeafSource® please visit: www.leafsource.com

DISCLAIMER: I am not getting paid to write or talk about any of these supplements. Aside from talking to those I believe to be “in the know” I’ve done my own research and decided to strengthen my immune system as naturally as possible. For a solid year I’ve taken the supplements I’ve mentioned here on my blog and have not so much as gotten a common cold or asthma (touch wood) since that time. Very unusual since every year, for at least a few days I get a common cold or bout with asthma where I must use an inhaler. I have not used my inhaler for over a year. I have also socially distanced myself from most people and have recently started going to my gym again to practice yoga. It is important to note that during yoga practice masks are not worn. We are at a 6 ft. distance from one another though during that time.

REFERENCES:

Vaskova J, et al. Effects of humic acids in vitro. In Vitro Call Dev Biol Anim. 2011 Jun;47(5-6):376-82.

Ansorg R, Rochus W. Studies on the antimicrobial effect of natural and synthetic humic acids. Arzneimittelforschung. 1978;28(12):2195-8.

Iubitskaia , NS . “Sodium humate in the treatment of osteoarthritis patients.” Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult, 1999; Issue 5, 22-24.

Gisela, K J, et al, “An In Vitro Investigation of the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Potassium Humate,” Journal Inflammation, 2004, Vol 28, No 3, Pages169-174.

Janeway, C, et al (2001). Immunobiology ; Fifth Edition. New York.

Joone, GK, et. al. J Biosci. 2002, 58(3/4), 263-267.

inspiration

Feel-good Friday: joyful meditations

A friend of mine gifted me with this uplifting and inspiring little guidebook.

This daily companion is a kind of spa for the soul.

One that tends to motivate women in a mindful manner to care more deeply for themselves and to face life’s challenges with courage and joy. The book is a practical resource for accessing inner wisdom, enhancing self-esteem, overcoming sorrow, and deepening relationships. I look forward to reading excerpts on a daily basis.

Each of the 150 meditations in this volume begins with an inspirational quote, followed by a thoughtful meditation, and concluded with an affirmation. These meditations provide the opportunity to contemplate a wide range of topics, including:

Developing awareness
Letting go
Believing in your dreams
Living in the now
Finding your true purpose
Practicing kindness
Being optimistic
Trusting the universe
Appreciating life’s blessings

Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better, it’s about befriending who we are. – Ani Pema Chodron

To order:

https://www.amazon.ca/Womans-Book-Joy-Listen-Gratitude/dp/1573246700

What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow. Our life is the creation of our mind. – Buddha

beauty

BOOTS No7 Airbrush Away Tinted Skin Perfector

Another Skincare/Makeup Review

The Boots brand can trace its roots back to 1849.

Although Boots No7 may be relatively new to many consumers, the skincare brand is as much of a British icon as tea, the Queen and wellies.

Since then, Boots has become the UK’s largest drugstore and has its own namesake skincare line, Boots No7. I don’t know if you remember how popular their *serum was when it first launched. In addition to the Protect and Perfect serum, some of the most buzz worthy No7 products include the No7 Firming Booster Serum and the No7 Line Correcting Booster Serum, from the Laboratories line. Together both serums generated a waiting list of 37,000 people; put another way, according to Boots, one product was sold every seven seconds. I tried it (see my past review below) and liked. it but now I’m onto this…

I would say that this is a makeup that feels like skincare.

I’m on my third tube of this velvety smooth Airbrush Away Tinted Skin Perfector that helps to blur fine lines and cover pores to give the appearance of flawless looking skin. I never wear foundation because it tends to sit on top of skin and prevent it from breathing. This product glides on like liquid silk and is incredibly light. I only use it on the oily T-zone area.

It’s quick and easy to apply, you can find it in most drugstores and the price is very reasonable.

Highlights

Vitamin-enriched formula
Blurs imperfections including; fine lines, pores and redness
Conditions skin
Defends against the damaging effects of free radicals
Combines the benefits of skincare with sheer coverage

What is Boots?

Boots was launched in 1849 by John Boot, who opened an herbal medicine shop in Nottingham, England. His son Jesse Boot is credited with turning Boots into a large retailer as he embraced traditional medicine at affordable prices. The company grew and expanded over the years, and milestones included the development of ibuprofen in 1969. In 2014 Walgreens acquired a majority stake in Boots, forming the Walgreens Boots Alliance.

What is the Boots No7 Philosophy?

According to the company, No7 takes a down to earth approach to beauty and skincare. As the company explains, “No7 was the first brand to democratize beauty in the UK, bringing premium, affordable products to women. That principle still holds strong..” The brand states that “beauty for women is about more than looking pretty, women use cosmetics to be ready for something: to show up, speak up, and make an impact in their world in their own way. We refer to this as No7 READY.” Boots No7 also strives to be “real and relatable, never featuring supermodels in its advertising and not retouching the remarkable people that do feature.”

Is Boots No7 Cruelty Free?

Yes. According to the company, “We do not conduct animal testing on our products, or on ingredients used in our products, nor do we commission animal testing on our products or on ingredients used in our products.”

Have you tried any of the No7 products? If so, what do you like?

my *serum review:

https://girlwhowouldbeking.com/2014/05/28/beauty-biz-does-boots-7-live-up-to-all-the-hype/

Source: The Derm Review

STYLE

The Rebel: Robin’s Jeans

Jeans will never fade from fashion…

It’s not very often that I buy a pair of “new” jeans. I like vintage style so I prefer to rummage through well worn versions in various consignment or vintage boutiques. I don’t like them too beat up looking either, so it’s a bit of a game. As you’re probably aware, even though they’re everywhere…try finding a pair that’s just so for fit and style to your body type.

Fast forward to Robin’s Jeans.

I first encountered their flagship storefront in Beverly Hills several years ago and bypassed it because the window display appeared too “rock ‘n roll” for my liking. In fact, that’s exactly the kind of clientele they appeal to. I’m told that Steven Tyler wears only Robin’s Jeans. The collection has grown as celebrity and fashion insiders such as Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Beyonce, Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne & Fergie have consistently made Robin’s Jean their go-to denim brand.

But that’s not why I bought my first pair just recently. I was in Richmond, B.C. at an outlet mall (killing time while waiting for something on my car to be updated) and had a look around.

I know a good thing when I see it. After walking into Robin’s Jeans and spending considerable time admiring the collection but finding it “too much” for me, I ended up walking out wearing a super comfortable, super soft, vintagy-looking, slightly worn-in, light wash denim style with a perfect fit…although expensive. Except for the wings displayed on the pockets, these were one of the plainest they had in stock. It probably won’t be the last pair I buy from them. The quality is outstanding.

Robin’s Jean’s unique signature, a set of golden wings, is a reflection of the designer’s positive energy and playful spirit. The brand, which consists of men’s, women’s, and kids clothing and accessories, is known for its stylish cuts and avant-garde washes, as well as its intricate detailing, studded embellishments and embroidery.

In addition to the flagship stores in Beverly Hills and New York City, Robin’s Jean products are sold in approximately 800 specialty stores and major retailers, including Sak’s Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus.

International distribution includes some of the most prestigious retailers in the world including Marie Claire in Belgium, Brigitte B in St. Tropez, Harvey Nichols in Hong Kong, and Saks Fifth Avenue in Dubai.

THE MAN BEHIND ROBIN’S JEAN

Robin Chretien, Founder and Designer of Robin’s Jean was born in Lyon, France where he grew up immersed in a creative environment. His mother, a talented fashion designer, and his father, an artist, always encouraged their sons’ creative endeavors and dreams. At age fourteen, Robin wore his first pair of jeans which were vintage patchwork flared jeans that he bought in St. Tropez, France. It was then that his passion for denim was born.

Robin arrived in Los Angeles in 1996 where his skills combined with talent and charm, caught the eye of the best denim companies in Los Angeles. At a time when most denim was designed around basic styles, Robin’s attention to new fabrics, innovative washes and nuanced details made him a rising star in the industry. Having held top design positions at leading denim companies such as Blue Cult, followed by Hudson Jeans, the name Robin Chretien quickly flew to the top of the best denim designers’ lists in the United States.

In 2005, he created Robin’s Jean, which is symbolized by a set of wings. “I came to the United States because I love the US. I make jeans because it’s always been my dream. To make jeans in the country that I love is my dream come true. Where better to make jeans than Los Angeles when your brand has angel wings? I design, produce, and manufacture Robin’s Jean in the U.S.A.” says Robin.

Today, the brand is renowned for it’s biker-chic aesthetic and innovative denim washes. Great attention is taken with each detail from hand embroidery to crystal studding and leather applique. The collection has quickly grown from a line of denim jeans to a range of leather jackets, t-shirts, belts, hats and footwear for men, women, and children. Robin’s Jean is now sought after by a cult-like following of celebrities, fashion stylists, and urban-trendsetters whose work and play blend effortlessly.

In 2011, the first Robin’s Jean Flagship store opened in Beverly Hills, CA. Today, there are currently ten Robin’s Jean Flagship Stores in the top shopping destinations Beverly Hills, CA. Soho, New York; Laguna Beach, CA; Garden State Plaza, Paramus, NJ; Park City, Utah, Orlando, Florida and the first Robin’s Jean international store in Vancouver, Canada. In 2016, new locations have opened in Beverly Center in Los Angeles, CA and Telluride, CO and Roosevelt Field, Garden City, NY. In 2016, plans are to continue to grow the Robin’s Jean brand further in the US with new stores in Houston TX, Tampa FL, Honolulu HI, as well as internationally.

https://robinsjean.com/flagship-stores

Robin’s Jeans

313 North Beverly Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Tel: (310) 786-7813

Food + Drink

Dine-Out

Foodies Unite!

DINE OUT VANCOUVER FESTIVAL

I’m looking forward to this…

Dine Out Vancouver Festival is about community, collaboration, and sharing Vancouver’s culinary story.

Along with the Wines of British Columbia, and a host of other Community Partners, Tourism Vancouver is proud to continue to showcase Vancouver’s culinary talent as well as the many different culinary and cultural experiences that only a city like ours can offer.

It all started with an idea. A group of food and wine enthusiasts got together with the team at Tourism Vancouver back in 2002 and pitched the idea of a fixed-price menu deal to get Vancouverites out and into restaurants during a normally slow time of the year. Fifty-seven restaurants jumped on board and from that stellar yet humble beginning, Dine Out Vancouver Festival has grown into Canada’s largest food and drink festival.

Today, the festival is a promotional umbrella that brings together hundreds of chefs, more than 300 restaurants, wineries, craft breweries, suppliers and more for a month of dining, food-forward virtual events and experiences designed to give culinary enthusiasts the opportunity to taste the best flavours of the city. Dine Out Vancouver Festival also includes special hotel offers to help make an overnight Dine Out experience both safe and relaxing.

For 2021, we wish our out-of-Province and International friends could join us, but unfortunately for now, non-essential travel into Canada is not permitted and not recommended into and within British Columbia. BC Residents, let’s do our part by continuing to follow current public health orders. Stay local and support local, with your immediate household or bubble in accordance with the latest guidelines.

Runs February 5 – March 7, 2021.

Source: “about”

Check out the participating restaurants and hotels:

https://www.dineoutvancouver.com/restaurants/

THINKAboutit

Has Critical Thinking Gone Out of Style?

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to this lately…

Given the never-ending 24/7 barrage of breaking news arriving on our mental doorsteps these days, coupled with our jam-packed lifestyles, it’s easy to watch a newscast or read an article and simply assume that whatever the anchor or writer is saying is accurate. After all, if it’s on TV or in a newspaper, it must be true, right?

But why are we so quick to make that assumption? In part, it’s because we trust that journalists have bothered to check on the validity of what they’re being told, and are in turn reporting.

Yet despite this default trust assumption, our intuition occasionally suspects this might not always be the case, especially in this era of ideologically-filtered journalism.

Enter the apparently lost art of critical thinking.

Ironically, I never gave critical thinking much thought until one day, many years ago, my late husband brought it to my attention.

The subject came up after I had just read something to him and was expecting an immediate response. But when none came, I was bothered by what I thought was his lack of interest, a bother which I openly expressed. In response, he said he needed time to mull it over and to think what I had read through. Then he explained that one of the most insightful courses he ever took in university was one on critical thinking. At its most basic, critical thinking is the awareness of not assuming everything you hear or read to be accurate, and to take the time to question it before making up your own mind.

This doesn’t mean one should automatically assume everyone is a liar or that they’re out to cheat you, or sway you. Yet, nor does it mean one should blindly accept everything on face value either, even when it’s information reported by mainstream news media or claimed in government announcements. Why? Because even these sources aren’t without their own agenda (e.g. a goal to attract bigger audiences or promote certain political figures and their views). In other words, critical thinking doesn’t just require we carefully scrutinize what we’re being told. It’s part of being a discerning consumer of information, which is key to being more socially intelligent.

Another form of critical thinking is the willingness to be self-critical — which is to say, a willingness to question one’s motives of buying into a particular perspective while at the same time ignoring other valid perspectives.

Advice that I’m offering and taking myself: What WE ALL NEED is more evidence; fewer claims.

So, here’s the question: Are both kinds of critical thinking in short supply these days?

Over and over again, I’m noticing how more and more people on social media are pushing their opinions in rather adamant unforgiving ways, while at the same time showing little tolerance for others’ viewpoints. So while everyone is entitled to their own views, these days, it seems that many are overly keen to push their views on you. Sure, people don’t have to see eye-to-eye on everything, and that should be okay. Yet for some curious reason, holding a divergence of perspectives no longer appears to be as “acceptable” as it used to be.

A court judge worth his/her salt will always weigh all sides of a legal argument. Why? Because it’s an essential ingredient in the principle of justice. In the same vein, a legal mediator always tries to be a neutral referee when trying to find a conciliatory middle ground in resolving disputes. Similarly, and by long-standing tradition, the Speakers in both Britain’s and Canada’s Parliamentary systems endeavor to remain impartial referees when mediating debates between opposing political parties, and when doing so, insist that parties remain within the limits of respectful parliamentary language.

Yet in today’s social media, grey areas no longer seem to matter. Instead, it’s only black or white, leaving us with 50 shades of polarity.

So, what does this imply? It implies we are losing the ability to think in more nuanced ways. It also implies we are rushing to conclusions without fully considering the merits of another person’s perspective on the situation, or fully appreciating their knowledge or experience.

And when we repeatedly act out of these kinds of default pre-judgments, or prejudices, we begin to reinforce a more narrow-minded style of “short-hand” thinking, one that takes pride and ego comfort in stereotyping and dehumanizing fellow human beings into easy-to-dispose-of categories. It’s the same thinking habit that the Nazis indulged when describing the Jews in their midst in the lead-up to the Second World War. And history has shown us where that can ultimately lead.

I’m no expert and I have made my own share of stupid mistakes and misjudgments in dealing with all sorts of matters and people. And like everyone else, I’ve learned my share of hard lessons through my mistakes.

Yet nowhere is critical thinking, including self-critical thinking more essential than today, especially when it comes to all we are being told about Covid-19. Our need to try to understand why someone might hold a view different from our own is part of both critical thinking and self-critical thinking (i.e. humility), because none of us should assume we know everything we need to know to navigate this, one of the greatest medical, social, economic and political challenges of our time.

Health + LifeStyle

Sunday Supplement: Learning about Lactoferrin

Antivirals and nutritional supplements have been proposed as potentially useful against severe acute respiratory syndromes that cause Covid-19, yet you never hear any public health official mention anything about them. Not even Vitamin D. I wonder why?

It was brought to my attention that taking Lactoferrin capsules might be another great immune boosting factor and preventative to getting covid.

Like I said before, my general health is very good and I eat well. However since I first heard about Covid I’ve decided to add a few more proactive supplements to my vitamin regime. Only those that I cannot get sufficient amounts from food alone. Because a healthy immune system is the best defense for fighting a virus.

Once covid is under control in the general population and over time, I’ll go back to my vitamin basics. I’m fully aware that vitamins alone do not a healthy body make. However, after doing some research myself, it appears that these extras cannot hurt and at the very best can help improve immunity. So far, so good.

Lactoferrin’s Anti-Viral effects

Lactoferrin is considered an essential in providing an increased defense for our immune systems. Lactoferrin deprives unwanted bacteria in the body from the nutrients they need to continue spreading. Lactoferrin is able to boost your body with beneficial antioxidants, enhance oxygenation of the tissues and improve white blood cell health. It seems to protect against bacterial infection, possibly by preventing the growth of bacteria by depriving them of essential nutrients or by killing bacteria by destroying their cell walls.

There are many new products on the market promoting their inclusion of lactoferrin as a healthy ingredient, but what exactly is lactoferrin? Lactoferrin is a protein found naturally in cow and human milk, and it is especially abundant in colostrum. It is also found naturally in our tears and saliva, and possesses a wide variety of healthy benefits for our bodies.

As an iron-binding milk glycoprotein, it promotes the growth of selected probiotic strains. It acts as an antimicrobial agent largely by binding the iron needed for growth of the microorganisms.

Lactoferrin has been found to both directly and indirectly inhibit several viruses that cause disease in humans. It directly inhibits viruses by binding to viral receptor sites, thus preventing the virus from infecting healthy cells.

The importance of lactoferrin in viral infections warrants a great deal of further research and use by clinicians. There is little doubt that lactoferrin is a key molecule for the body and the immune system in the fight against viruses and other microbes, and could be an effective supplement for people with viral infections.

Maybe most promising and interesting, there is research that points to lactoferrin being able to improve the efficiency of antibiotic treatments in the fight against pathogenic microbes. Considering the out of control use of antibiotics and the rise in antibiotic resistant strains of “bad bugs,” this is very good news. Would the combination of lactoferrin and antibiotics be the knockout punch to certain bacteria that are not being killed by antibiotic treatments alone? More research is needed, but the evidence is very compelling.

Conclusion

There is little doubt that lactoferrin is a major find and a potential breakthrough as a natural nontoxic treatment in an array of human ailments. Though a handful of companies are able to produce lactoferrin at this time, there is only one company producing the apolactoferrin (iron depleted) form in large quantity. Studies suggest that the superior form to supplement with is apolactoferrin.

Disclaimer

As with everything else, take time to do your own research as there can be pros and cons to taking too much or too little of any one supplement. The ones I’ve mentioned are supposed to help strengthen your immune system to oncoming viruses. Having said that, depending on your overall health and what medications you may already be taking, it’s always best to check with your health provider.

This is the last of a series of natural Covid Combatants. I’ll continue to post about other “healthy habits” in the upcoming weeks ahead.

Sources:

Chang, R. (2020) Re: Lactoferrin and COVID-19 – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32738305/

Life Extension Magazine

Symbiotics.com

Word of Mouth from a few knowledgeable individuals

Health + LifeStyle

Sunday Supplement – ZINC About it

In my quest to find optimum immune boosting combatants to fight Covid-19, I discovered that zinc is indeed crucial for the development and function of immune cells.

So I’ve added it to my current kill-Covid health regime. I don’t have Covid, but I feel extras like these are helping to reduce my risks of getting a severe or even life-endangering case of the virus. Hell, it might even help fight the flu…although we never hear about anyone getting the flu since Covid (what’s up with that?). While I may omit some of these extras and go back to my “basics” when the virus finally is under widespread control, my add-on extras right now will remain extra D3, Zinc, NAC and Lactoferrin – which I’ll talk about next week.

Zinc is an essential mineral that your body uses in countless ways but does not make on its own. It aids growth, DNA synthesis, immune function and more. Because your body doesn’t naturally produce zinc, you must obtain it through food or supplements.

Keep in mind that routine zinc supplementation is not recommended without the advice of a healthcare professional. You can definitely take too much. The recommended daily intake of zinc ranges between 3 mg and 16 mg. But have a look at the links provided below and/or ask your local pharmacy or health food store specialist for more information before making up your own mind. Yet as there’s an over-abundance of information I could talk about in great length, I’ll only touch on a few key elements.

An article in sciencedirect.com had this to say: Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had significantly low zinc levels in comparison to healthy controls. Data in their study clearly showed that a significant number of COVID-19 patients were zinc deficient. These zinc deficient patients developed more complications, and the deficiency was associated with a prolonged hospital stay and increased mortality.

Amongst COVID-19 patients, 57.4% were found to be zinc deficient.

Given findings like these, supplementation with zinc is increasingly recommended in the management of COVID-19 patients.

Under physiological conditions, zinc is essential for cellular growth and the maturation of immune cells, particularly in the development and activation of **T-lymphocytes (**part of the immune system and develop from stem cells in the bone marrow. They help protect the body from infection and may help fight cancer.) Studies have shown that around 10% of our body proteins utilize zinc and that zinc is a cofactor in at least 200 immuno-modulatory and antioxidant reactions. Prolonged deficiency is associated with immune system dysfunction, sterility in males, neurosensory disorders, and decreased body mass. Studies have also shown increased viral infection in patients with zinc deficiency.

Foods that contain Zinc: Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food, but red meat and poultry provide the majority of zinc in the American diet. Other good food sources include beans, nuts, certain types of seafood (such as crab and lobster), whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, and dairy products.

Gives us all something to zinc about right? I always urge others to do their own research and use this only as a basic outline. Like I was saying…there’s way too much info out there. I try to narrow down as much as humanly possible so hope this little bit of info. helps.

*My Vitamin basics aside from trying to eat as healthily as possible: a high-potency 2-daily vitamin/mineral supplement, Super Omega-3, Vitamin D3, Vitamin C-1000, Magnesium Citrate, Enhanced Super Digestive Enzymes, Leaf Source which is a humic-fulvic acid complex and Melatonin at night.

Important Sidenote: The WHO has said not to take Ibuprofen as it has been contra indicated for Covid. If you’ve got to take a headache or pain relief remedy use regular aspirin or tylenol instead. But do not take even these for fever reduction. It’s been shown that fever is a necessary response of the immune system if you get it. Of course you can google about this on your own.

Source:

MedRXiv – how low zinc levels at clinical admission associates with poor outcomes in COVID-19

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.10.07.20208645v1

Science Direct:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S120197122030730X

STYLE

CSide View

California Dreamin’

Conjuring up images of Classic California comes to light at a new pop-up boutique in Palm Desert. CSide is a California laid back easy glamour concept. From cashmere to camisoles and faux fur to fedoras… showcasing fabulous local designers with the most innovative flair for fashion, art, wellness and design – in the desert. Here’s a sneak peek at some fierce fashion: