Physical Health

Your thyroid gland plays a very important role in your body. It is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, just above your collarbone. It is one of your endocrine glands, which make hormones that control many activities in your body. There are a number of possible thyroid diseases and disorders, and the two of the most common thyroid disorders are hyperthyroidism (when your thyroid gland makes more thyroid hormones than your body needs) and hypothyroidism (when your thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones). Other diseases include goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland), thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules (lumps in the thyroid gland) and thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland).

Environmental toxins are everywhere, and pregnant women and their unborn child are especially vulnerable to their pernicious effects. These chemicals do not only come from the environment, but may already be inside your home, car, purse – or worse, on your dinner plate!

The reality is, there are about 75,000 distinct chemicals that are produced here in America or imported from abroad. Many of these toxic agents have not been regulated properly. At this very moment, you may be holding in your hand a chemical cocktail, and your unborn child is especially at risk because of his or her underdeveloped system.

Mercury is one of the most potent neurotoxins found in the environment. Exposure to this heavy metal poses potential psychological, neurological, immunological, and endocrinal damage in your body. Although mercury is found in air and water pollution, it can also reach your bloodstream and impair your vital functions through dental amalgams, which are deceptively called "silver fillings."

Your skin is your body’s largest organ and first line of defense. This “covering” is a complex system made up of nerves, glands, and cell layers, each having a role in your health. It serves as a buffer that helps protect you from extreme temperatures and toxic chemicals, while also producing antibacterial compounds that defend you against infection. Your skin also plays a role in the production of vitamin D.

Although your skin is capable of all of these functions, it needs protection, too. If not cared for properly, it can become dry and rough, produce wrinkles, and/or become susceptible to certain skin problems.

SEE INFOGRAPHIC HERE: Hidden Dangers in Personal Care Products

The featured study found the following nutrients to have a beneficial impact on telomere length:

• Vitamin B12
• Zinc
• Vitamin D
• Omega-3
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E

Below, I will review a few of those, plus several additional recommendations for what I believe are among the most important nutrients to maintain and promote telomere lengthening.

The mineral zinc has received some attention as of late because it appears to help fight the common cold when taken at the onset of symptoms. However, new research has shown another potential use in regard to idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss, also known as SSNHL.

You may enjoy eating processed, supermarket-bought foods because they taste good, but what if you find out that these products contain a dangerous sweetener that may have long-term effects on your health? This sweetener is none other than high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), the leading source of calories in the United States today. HFCS lurks in many so-called "healthy" food products – even some which are not naturally sweet.

While a nutritious diet accounts for about 80 percent of the benefits derived from a healthy lifestyle, exercise cannot be ignored, and there's evidence suggesting that exercise protects against telomere shortening as well. Yet another lifestyle strategy that can have a beneficial impact is intermittent fasting.

I find it troubling that the average man now consumes roughly 35 pounds of high-fructose corn syrup and 47 pounds of cane sugar every year. It's no wonder a large portion of the population suffers from health conditions brought about by a high-sugar diet, such as:

• Obesity and insulin resistance
• Elevated triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Depleted levels of vitamins and minerals
• Arthritis and gout
• Liver disease and cardiovascular disease
• Cancer