« No such thing as bad carbs? | Main | Is dieting hopeless? Monica takes on a "skeptic" »

October 03, 2007

Too much perfume? Could be a zinc deficiency.

Pepe Do you know someone who wears too much perfume or cologne? Although it's extremely unpleasant for their co-workers and those sitting close to them at the movie theater or on the commuter train, these folks usually have no idea that their scent is over-powering to those around them.  And in fact,  it may be the result a nutritional deficiency.

At the recent annual conference of the American College of Nutrition, researchers presented results of an intriguing study that found that those who over-apply scents have dramatically lower zinc levels than normal. In addition to affecting your sense of taste and smell, zinc is critical for a healthy immune response and neurological function.

It can be touchy to approach someone about what seems like a personal grooming matter. But if anyone has ever hinted to you that your cologne might be a little over-the-top, consider the possibility that low zinc levels are rendering your sniffer unreliable.

Good food sources of zinc include meat, dairy products, shell-fish, nuts, and beans.  (Here's a more complete list of foods rich in zinc, generated with ND's Nutrient Search Tool.  The Recommended Daily Allowance is around 10mg per day.

ABOUT
BLOG TOPICS
ARCHIVES
SUBSCRIBE VIA RSS
subscribe via RSS
BLOGS AND SITES OF INTEREST

Diet and Weight Loss Blog
Up-to-date information, helpful tips, motivation, and the support you need to safely lose weight and keep it off for good.

Eat Like Me
See how a registered dietitian meets the challenge of eating healthfully in the real world.

Food411
Learn about the newest products, ethnic, regional, and hard-to-find ingredients sourced and sampled by Food411.com.

Gluten Free Blog
Recipes, product reviews, events, research, and support for those with Celiac/Sprue and others living without wheat.

The Diet Blog
News, advice, and opinion on every aspect of weight loss and management. Down-to-earth and hype-free.

The Fitness Blog
Not just for serious athletes and body-builders, this blog combines useful information, motivation and good humor.

The Flying Trapeze
Cultivate and enjoy a healthy lifestyle with tools and support delivered with wit and personality.

The Sustainable Table
News, recipes, and opinion about healthy, sustainable food choices.

Veg Blog
Daily news and links to what's new in the online vegetarian community.


About Nutrition Data Contact Us Advertising Sitemap User Agreement Privacy Policy

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy. © 2008 CondéNet, Inc. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of CondéNet, Inc. NutritionData.com is a member of the Condé Nast Publications family, which includes CondéNet, Condé Nast and Fairchild Publications. NutritionData.com is a trademark owned by CondéNet, Inc.

visit our sister sites:

Concierge.com / Epicurious.com / Men.Style.com / Style.com / Flip.com / Wired.com / Lipstick.com / NutritionData.com / YM.com / Allure /
Architectural Digest / Brides / Cookie / Condé Nast Portfolio / Domino / Glamour / Gourmet / Lucky / Men's Vogue / Self / Teen Vogue /
The New Yorker / Vanity Fair / W