Committed to Being the Best	WINTER 2004/2005

THE HEALTHY CORNER by Karen Kaczmarek

ZINC: The Wondrous Mineral Zinc gives your body help, when and where it needs it, to fight for your health. Zinc plays a role in enhancing immunity, stimulating anti-viral functions in the body, and it plays a vital role in an enormous number of biological processes which help regulate your body's sensory perceptions, like taste, smell, and vision. Optimal health requires 8 - 11 mg of Zinc per day; you can receive this amount by taking a multi-vitamin / mineral tablet or by eating a serving of liver each day, your choice. . .   Heart Attack Chest pain is the most commonly reported heart attack symptom, but the pain may not feel severe or stabbing. It may feel more like discomfort. This chest discomfort may be accompanied by or follow shortness of breath. You may also feel pain in other areas of your upper body, such as in your arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Other symptoms may be breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness. Don't take any chances, seek medical attention ASAP!   Nighty, night. . . Individuals who sleep well have a tougher immune system, sharper memories, and longer life spans. Experts are also now saying that a good night's sleep can help you keep the extra pounds off. One week of sleep deprivation depletes your body's ability to process sugar and limits production of the human growth hormone. When less of this hormone is produced, your body tends to store rather than burn fat.   Coffee drinkers A study of more than 90,000 Japanese found that people who drank coffee daily, or nearly every day, had half the liver cancer risk of those who never drank coffee. The team of scientists noted that coffee contains large amounts of antioxidants and some studies indicate those compounds have the potential to inhibit cancer in the liver.