WHAT IS ZINC? Zinc is a micromineral (or trace element) that is found mainly in high protein foods. It has a number of important roles in the body supporting proper metabolism and a strong immune system. In this article I will be providing you with a full breakdown of this important nutrient. WHEN WAS ZINC DISCOVERED? Awareness of zinc ores dates back many years. In Transylvania an alloy containing 87% zinc was found in prehistoric ruins. Objects made of brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) have also been discovered in Palestine and are thought to date back to around 1300 … [Read more...]
Archives for 2010
Silicon Explained
WHAT IS SILICON? Silicon is a micromineral (or trace element) that supports the development and maintenance of the connective tissues and skeletal system. In this article I will be discussing silicon, its role in the body, the best food sources and much more. WHEN WAS SILICON DISCOVERED? Silicon was first recognised as an element in 1787 by the French chemist Antoine Lavoisier. He identified silicon as part of the compound silicate but was unable to isolate it. In 1800 Sir Humphry followed up on this work and mistakenly concluded that silicon was a compound. However, in 1823 the … [Read more...]
3 Potential Side Effects Of Carbohydrate Deficiency
Low carbohydrate diets have become increasingly popular in recent years due to a large number of low carbohydrate diet plans (Atkins, South Beach, The Zone) getting high amounts of media attention. The basic principle behind these diets is that by reducing your carbohydrate intake you force your body into a state of ketosis (where it burns fat for energy instead of glucose and glycogen). As a result you burn more body fat and store less of it. Whilst these diets are very effective and in my opinion support good health (I have tried to reduce my carbohydrate intake over the last year), it … [Read more...]
Quercetin and Athletic Performance
Hello everyone. Today's article is a guest post from Richard Miller who writes research reports on resveratrol and quercetin. ----- In the past few years, there have been a number of studies dealing with the effects of quercetin increasing the performance of mice and mixed performance in planned clinical trials using athletes. David Nieman and his research team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina had been behind many of these studies over the years. All of the testing was directed at trying to learn how quercetin functioned in the human body as if no other … [Read more...]
Selenium Explained
WHAT IS SELENIUM? Selenium is a micromineral (or trace element) that protects your body from damaging free radicals (a harmful by-product of oxygen related reactions in the body) and reduces inflammation in the body. In this article I will be providing you with an in-depth look at this important nutrient. WHEN WAS SELENIUM DISCOVERED? Selenium was discovered by the two Swedish chemists Jons Jakob Berzelius and J. G. Gahn in 1818. They were studying the chemicals within sulphuric acid and found a material that they thought was the rare element tellurium. Berzellius studied this … [Read more...]
The Free Fitness Tips Newsletter – August 2010
Hello everyone. The Free Fitness Tips Newsletter - August 2010 is now online. If you want to download a copy you can do so using the link below... >>> Click Here To Download The Free Fitness Tips Newsletter - August 2010 <<< … [Read more...]
Nickel Explained
WHAT IS NICKEL? Nickel is a micromineral (or trace element) that assists in the absorption of iron and the production of red blood cells. Today I am going to be discussing this nutrient in greater detail. WHEN WAS NICKEL DISCOVERED? When early miners first came across nickel they were confused as to what it actually was because it acted in a similar way to many existing metals. For example, both copper and nickel were found in ores with a green tint. However, both ores reacted in different ways to heat. In 1751 Swedish mineralogist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt made the breakthrough and … [Read more...]
Molybdenum Explained
WHAT IS MOLYBDENUM? Molybdenum is a micromineral (or trace element) that joins with and activates certain enzymes. In this article I will be providing a full overview of this important nutrient. WHEN WAS MOLYBDENUM DISCOVERED? Early chemists believed that molybdenum disulphide (a compound of molybdenum and sulphur) and graphite (pure carbon) were both the same material due to their similar appearance. However, in 1778 Carl Wilhelm Scheele discovered that they were in fact two different materials. He performed further research on molybdenum disulphide and found that it contained a … [Read more...]
Manganese Explained
WHAT IS MANGANESE? Manganese is a micromineral (or trace element) that activates a number of enzymes in the body. It also supports strong, healthy bones. In this article I will be discussing manganese in greater detail. WHEN WAS MANGANESE DISCOVERED? One of the main ores of manganese is pyrolusite (a compound of manganese and oxygen – manganese dioxide). Early artists used this ore in two ways; to give glass a purple colour and to remove colour from glass. During the mid 1700s chemists started to suspect that pyrolusite may contain a new element and started to analyse it in more … [Read more...]
Iron Explained
WHAT IS IRON? Iron is a micromineral (or trace element) that supports the production of haemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen around the body). In this article I will be providing a full overview of this important nutrient. WHEN WAS IRON DISCOVERED? Awareness of iron dates back to around 3400 B.C. when the Ancient Egyptians are believed to have used iron found in meteorites to create tools and jewellery. However, exact details regarding the discovery of iron are unknown. HOW DOES YOUR BODY USE IRON? An average adult stores 3-4g of iron in their … [Read more...]