Blog

While optimal selenium levels are imperative for proper thyroid function, abnormally high selenium intake can be toxic – causing gastrointestinal disturbances, changes in nails and hair, weakness, convulsions and decreased cognitive function. So it’s important to understand the ways in which we take in selenium, both in the diet and as supplements. A balance of nutrients is required by our bodies to maintain good health, and selenium (Se) is an important one that often gets overlooked. This essential element is a required component of the selenoproteins, which include those that are needed to convert thyroid hormone from the inactive to the active form, and...

Bromine should be recognised as the 28th essential element for all species, from fruit flies to humans, in according to researchers at Vanderbilt University. Study results were published 2014 in Cell, and demonstrate that without bromine, collagen type IV molecules will not bond together properly to form the structural proteins of connective tissues, leading to disrupted tissue development.   This figure demonstrates bromines role as a co-factor in formation of collagen IV crosslinks:  Image Source: McCall S, Cummings C, Bhave G, Vanacore R, Page-MCaw A, Hudson B. Bromine is an essential trace element for assembly of collagen IV scaffolds in...

The current concern over the dangerous Ebola virus has heightened awareness about infections that can be transmitted via contact with body fluids. The last thing we want is to be exposed to body fluids from others infected with dangerous organisms and, ironically, a likely place to encounter such fluids is the phlebotomy station at the doctor’s office. How can exposure to other people who may be sickened with an infectious agent be minimized? One way to minimize exposure is to use at-home sample collection methods, a hallmark of ZRT lab testing, which ensure seclusion and don’t require samples to be...

 The increasing incidence of thyroid cancer makes it a timely topic for any time of the year. In fact, something that every healthcare provider should know is that there's an expectation that will see a record number of papillary thyroid cancers being diagnosed, and the corresponding awareness campaign promotes a "neck check" for early detection and treatment. Additionally, it's hoped that heightened public awareness will encourage research leading to a cure for all types of thyroid cancer (TC). My review of the research literature for thyroid cancer reveals a controversy around the upsurge of this common endocrine cancer. Are more...

Having breasts, or just being a woman, is indeed the biggest risk factor, since the disease is 100 times more common in women than in men. But given the controversies that continue to rage about the benefits of screening (for example, a mammogram may not pick up the most invasive and deadly types of breast cancer) it seems appropriate to step back and look at what breast cancer really is, what it is not, and who is at the most risk.  What Breast Cancer Is Not Breast cancer is not the leading cause of death in women, or even the...