A deficiency can lead to a weakened immune response - not something any of us wants for ourselves or our families, right? Find out what vital mineral your body uses in countless ways, including for things like metabolism, digestion, nerve function, and skin health.
The second-most-abundant trace mineral in your body, zinc is present in every cell. However, its classification as an "essential nutrient" means the body cannot produce or store it, we need to get our zinc - consistently - through food sources or supplements.
What Makes This Mineral So Important
Zinc is:
critical for the development and function of immune cells
necessary for healthy metabolism
fundamental to skin health
necessary for DNA synthesis and protein production
plays a role in healthy cell growth and division
needed for your senses of taste and smell (one of the enzymes crucial for proper taste and smell is dependent on zinc, so a deficiency can reduce your ability to taste or smell)
important for healthy growth and development, including sexual development
shown to be helpful in slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration
helpful in reducing the symptoms of diarrhea in malnourished individuals.
It also supports the body's inflammation response, digestion, nerve function, wound healing + speed of recovery, improves acne symptoms, and is necessary for the activity of over 300 enzymes that aid in many other processes.
To Supplement, or Not to Supplement
As usual, popping a pill is not necessarily the best way to get your nutrients; taken long term and in high doses, zinc supplements can cause a copper deficiency which may lead to neurological issues like numbness and weakness in the arms and legs. Don't worry - with a varied diet filled with fresh + unprocessed foods, your body usually gets enough zinc!
Food sources of zinc include:
chicken
red meat
shellfish
fish
legumes: chickpeas, lentils, black beans, & kidney beans
nuts & seeds: pumpkin seeds, cashews, & hemp seeds
eggs
ancient & whole grains: oats, quinoa, brown rice
mushrooms
kale
peas
asparagus
beet greens
and DARK CHOCOLATE for the win!
Feel a Cold Creeping Up?
While zinc lozenges or syrups taken within 24 hours of the first signs of a cold can help to shorten it, use of intranasal zinc (the kind you spray in your nose) has been linked with the loss of the sense of smell - sometimes long term or permanently. Feel like you have a weak immune response? Talk to your doctor about whether or not you have a zinc deficiency.
Talk with Your Doctor
According to the Mayo Clinic, the recommended daily amount of zinc via supplements is 8 milligrams (mg) for women and 11 mg for adult men; check with your physician or nutritionist for help deciding whether or not a supplement is right for you. Also discuss possible interactions with your doctor between oral zinc and taking quinolone or tetracycline antibiotics, the rheumatoid arthritis drug penicillamine, and hiazide diuretics for blood pressure; they'll tell you how much time you need between taking the supplement and any medications.
When you invest in your wellness, you're not alone - we're here to walk alongside you as we grow in wellness, purpose, and abundance. Together, we'll help you find answers to your questions and build lasting relationships along the way.
We're here to pay it forward. A friend helped empower us and now we're here to share what we've learned so you can make the best choices for you and your family, too!
Start by claiming your free guide, like 5 Steps to Healthy Living. You can also head over to learn more about why it's important for us all to become educated consumers.
Comments