Blog

By Dr. Julie Verfurth, ZRT Laboratory One of the most common signs associated with advancing age is wrinkling, thinning, and sagging of the skin. Several different internal and external processes can contribute to these signs. However, one of the main culprits responsible for the seemingly unavoidable loss of skin vitality that occurs with age is the loss of collagen.  Collagen Collagen is the main structural protein found in all connective tissues of people and animals. Collagen supports surrounding tissues giving them structural integrity. Collagen is contained within the extracellular matrix of the connective tissue layer underneath the skin, providing strength...

By Margaret Grove, ZRT Laboratory. Sometimes you look back and wonder where all the time went. Let’s see - in my twenties, the younger, sexier me had been to University and embarked on a career in medical research, and I’d been very active in my leisure time – including hiking and skiing every year in the Alps. I was too invested in my career and hobbies to have children and wanted to put that off until the right time. In my thirties, I eventually realized it was time to start a family before it was too late. At age 35...

By David Zava, ZRT Laboratory Delivery of the bioidentical hormones estradiol (E2), progesterone (Pg), and testosterone (T) through the skin as a cream or gel (topically) has become a mainstay of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) for women and men. A plethora of FDA-approved pharmaceuticals, compounded, and even over-the-counter topical BHRT products are available. The popularity of these products lies not only in their ease of use but in proven clinical efficacy [1-5] in treating hormonal deficiencies mostly brought on by ageing of the female (menopause) and male (andropause) reproductive systems. Dosing for Optimal Clinical Benefit Over the past 30 or so...

By Dr Kate Placzek, ZRT Laboratory Influenced by our environment, we are constantly being exposed to elements, whether nutritional or toxic. They are a big contribution to the yin yang dualism of health and disease.  With heavy metals, contamination is so extensive nowadays that it is no longer a question of whether exposure took place, but rather what the level of exposure was or continues to be. Toxicity from low levels of exposure can lead to a wide array of neurological disturbances and can be much more insidious in presentation than acute toxicity, which is, in contrast, rather obvious in...

By Theodore Zava, ZRT Laboratory. Selenium is a trace essential element that is incorporated into selenoproteins. There are at least 25 known selenoproteins in the human body, their primary roles being antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and thyroid deiodinases that convert thyroxine (T4) to active thyroid hormone (T3). Deficiencies in selenium can be detrimental to health, while selenium excess can be just as dangerous. Brazil nuts are commonly used as a form of selenium supplementation, but it isn’t commonly known that the level of selenium in Brazil nuts is highly variable.   Why Are Brazil Nuts High in Selenium?...