According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 14 percent of women ages 15 to 49 are currently using oral pills (OCPs, commonly known as “the pill”) for contraception. However, the pill isn’t restricted to women who are currently sexually active, or even to women who have never had sex. According to a 2011 study conducted by Rachel K. Jones and sponsored by the Guttmacher Institute titled “Beyond Birth Control: The Overlooked Benefits of Contraceptive Pills,” (note: link opens a PDF file) approximately 18 percent of women age 15 to 44 currently use OCPs, some of whom use them for reasons beyond birth control: 86 percent of OCP users use the pill for birth control 58 percent of OCP users rely on it, at least in part, for purposes other than birth control, including cramps, menstrual regulation or pain, acne, endometriosis, or other unspecified reasons While the […]
Micronutrients
Fungi are old. They evolved about 1.5 billion years ago. Compare that to human beings, which evolved only about 315,000 years ago. Fungi are ubiquitous, growing in nearly any damp location. And they can range in size from microscopic molds and yeasts to giant puff-ball mushrooms measuring five feet in diameter. Fungi produce microscopic spores that can enter your home through the tiniest openings in doors, windows, vents, and air conditioning systems. They can hitch a ride into your home on your clothing, shoes, bags, and even your pets. Once inside, they spread throughout the home, floating freely through the air. They don’t need much to survive, just a little moisture and a place to grow — dust, paint, wallpaper, drywall, carpet, fabric, upholstery, insulation, you name it. But that’s not where they do the most harm. Various fungi, along with their spores and toxins, can enter your body through
Nutrients are often divided into two groups. There are macronutrients that the body needs in large quantities, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. On food labels, these macronutrients are measured in grams (g). And then there are micronutrients — vitamins and minerals that the body needs in much smaller quantities for normal growth, development, and function. Quantities of micronutrients are given in milligrams (mg). While macronutrients get the most press — in the context of diets to lose weight, reduce fat, increase muscle mass, and increase energy — it is often micronutrients that steal the headlines in news stories related to illness and preventing infection. Take, for example, the recent worldwide COVID-19 outbreak. Many articles, as well as published reports, highlight the potential benefits of vitamins C and D and the mineral zinc in boosting the body’s immune system to fight this deadly virus and other disease-causing microbes. However, micronutrients