Domestic Geek

I knew Zinc was part of the immune system since taking zinc drops at the start of a cold helps you kick it faster. I didn't know that Zinc is also needed for cell division, cell growth, wound healing and the break down of carbohydrates . Zinc is also needed for the senses of smell and taste. Who knew?

BTW, that How Stuff Works site is just full of useful information.

Marcus just hollered back here that the pot of coffee he brewed is ready. Yay for men that make coffee!

I think I should tell you all, as I sit here looking at my iTunes interface, that I find Marcus naming the iTunes share on his quad-core Mac Pro "The Quadfather" extremely hilarious (and clever)!

B-Complex is the term used to group a whole bunch of related vitamins together, including Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Biotin, Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 (Cobalamins). They are similar to Vitamin C in that the body doesn't produce nor store them.

Each vitamin has its own set of benefits. Read this article about B-Complex at How Stuff Works if you'd like to know the specifics of each one. Basically, the group is essential for the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose, the breakdown of fats and proteins (which aids the normal functioning of the nervous system), muscle tone in the stomach and intestinal tract, skin, hair, eyes, mouth and liver.

Vitamin C is one of the most important substances we need. Besides helping keep our immune systems strong, it helps our bodies heal and is necessary for our bodies to absorb iron. This is especially important for women, who usually have low iron levels due to menstruation. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning it helps block free radicals produced when the body turns food to energy. Free radicals are responsible for aging and contribute to many diseases such as cancer, heart disease and arthritis.

Since the body can not produce vitamin C on its own nor can it store it, constant supply needs to be ingested to stay healthy. The good news is that the only health problem caused by ingesting too much into your system is some pretty gnarly diarrhea and an upset stomach.

According to this article about vitamin C, here are some of the signs that you have a vitamin C deficiency:

* Dry and splitting hair
* Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)
* Bleeding gums
* Rough, dry, scaly skin
* Decreased wound-healing rate
* Easy bruising
* Nosebleeds
* Weakened tooth enamel
* Swollen and painful joints
* Anemia
* Decreased ability to fight infection
* Possible weight gain because of slowed metabolism

A severe vitamin C deficiency is called scurvy.

Two thirds of the 'thon down, one third to go. This overnight stretch is by far the hardest. My non-blogathon friends are tucked away in their beds, hopefully sleeping peacefully. Fatigue is setting in to the bloggers. Comments are less frequent and you start to feel that you're all alone and there's no point. It'll pass in a bit. Next thing I know, it will be 7 am and I, too, can crawl into bed beside Marcus and slip into a sleep coma.

There is still time to sponsor me if you'd like and haven't yet done so. Link is in the upper left hand corner under the blogathon logo or click the big banner under the header.