Everything You Need to Know About the Benefits of Zinc in a Nutshell!
The benefits of Zinc as an essential mineral controls many bodily functions. It is a component of more than 200 enzymes and is responsible for incredible benefits. This important mineral plays a role in the immune system, DNA synthesis, cell division, and protein synthesis, healthy skin and hair and more. Deficiency can lead to stunted growth, delayed sexual maturation, impaired wound healing, poor appetite plus several other issues listed below. The recommended daily intake of zinc for adults is 11 milligrams.
The Benefits of Zinc and the Shocking Deficiency in Our Daily Diet
It is estimated that over two billion people are deficient. Deficiency is a condition where an intake is below the recommended daily allowance (RDA), or when there is a decrease in the amount of bioavailable zinc in serum. It causes a number of health problems including impaired growth and development, delayed sexual maturation, poor appetite or sense of taste, reduced immunity, night blindness or other eye problems such as dry eyes or difficulty focusing on close objects (farsightedness).
Complex formula Zinc for Maximum Absorption
The only mineral higher in deficiency world-wide is magnesium. Magnesium is disappearing from our soils while zinc is still a relatively abundant mineral. Poor diet and gut health in addition to H. Pylori, a bacteria believed to reside in half the population, blunts our ability to absorb zinc! It is required every day as the body cannot store it.
Zinc has a direct relationship with copper so taking too much can remove copper and vice versa. We should keep the zinc to copper ratio at approximately ten to one. Some zinc supplements come with copper in the proper ratio. If you use one that does not contain copper, you can generally get enough from eating organ meats on occasion or drinking and cooking with copper kitchen ware.
More on How Important Absorption is
Keep in mind that we rarely absorb the amount of nutrient listed on the dose as some or much of it is the transport molecule like orotate, citrate, oxide, etc. Oxide requires around 80 percent of mix to deliver a meager payload whereas orotate delivers a much higher percentage.
With covid and other viruses potentially on the horizon, zinc is near the top of the list for most important nutrients for immunity. Recent research indicates quercetin taken alongside supercharges the absorption and benefits of zinc. Co factors like quercetin, boron, vitamin D, B complex, C and others synergistically work together.
We Need This Mineral Daily!
Since it gets eliminated daily, we need to focus on a regimen that maintains the proper level consistently. We suggest experimenting with different types of supplemental forms along with a diet rich in zinc.
It is difficult to determine our level since 99 percent is inside our cells and only 1 percent in blood. There is a test where you put a couple tablespoons of zinc oxide powder or other zinc powder in a pint of pure water. Mix and take a couple tablespoons of this mix in your mouth and hold.
If you do not taste much of anything after about 30 seconds or so, you are very deficient. If the taste begins to come through after 15 seconds or so, you are slightly deficient. Lastly, if it tastes terrible from the moment you put in your mouth, your zinc level is sufficient. Crude but apparently pretty effective as a guide.
What to Know About Zinc and What Happens If You Don’t Get Enough (webmd.com)
The benefits include:
– immunity
– wound healing
– taste and smell
– skin and nails
– vision
– shortened duration of colds
-increased fertility in both men and women
-improved testosterone levels in men
-increased libido in both men and women
Food sources include:
-Oysters/shellfish – Highest level!
-Eggs
-Beans and legumes
-Nuts, pumpkin seeds, and whole grains
-Chicken and turkey
-Breast-milk, yogurt, and cheese
Vegetable sources:
Shiitake Mushrooms
Green Peas
Spinach
Lima Beans
Lentil Sprouts
Asparagus
Beet Greens
Broccoli
Okra
Sweet Corn
-Citrus fruits
-Bananas and plantains
-Seafood
-Soups made from bone broth
-Milk and milk products
Causes for deficiency:
– Poor diet
– Alcoholism
– Diarrhea
– Malabsorption syndrome
– Crohn’s disease
– Celiac disease
– Ulcerative colitis
– Chronic kidney disease
– HIV/AIDS
– Smoking
– Severe burn injuries
– Too many antibiotics
– Vitamin B deficiency
– Diet low in animal products
– Diet low in plant foods rich in zinc
– Over exertion/sweating frequently
– H Pylori bacteria
Symptoms/results of deficiency:
– Impaired immune function
– Delayed wound healing
– Reduced sense of taste and smell
– Mouth and gum issues
– Hair loss
– Skin lesions, acne, psoriasis
– Autism
– Dementia
– Diarrhea
– Impotence
– Wilson’s disease
– Sickle cell disease
– Chronic kidney disease
– Chronic liver disease
– Poor night vision
Highly Absorbable Zinc
Supplemental zinc types:
-Poor Absorption- sulfate
-Low Absorption- oxide
-Better Absorption- picolinate
-Improved Absorption- citrate
-Excellent Absorption- orotate
-Superior Absorption-byglycinate/glycinate
The exception to the rule is ionic zinc. Ionic refers to pure ions that are water-soluble and non-chelated. This form is already in the charged form that your body utilizes in its cells; its bioavailability is not dependent on a chelating agent but your stomach contents, such as digested amino acids from proteins. For many with good stomach acid, this is also an excellent version.
