The mighty mineral you may be missing out on!
Do you feel tired, run down, or just generally unwell?
Are you looking for a way to boost your immune system and overall health?
If so, you might want to consider zinc as the answer to your problems!
Zinc is a mineral that plays an important role for a lot of the functions in your body from supporting your immune system right through to healing wounds. Unfortunately, this powerful nutrient is lacking from many people’s diets.
First thing’s first – who can/ should take zinc? Well, just about everyone! Zinc is particularly important for pregnant and breastfeeding women. It is also important for people with gastrointestinal disorders that can lead to poor nutrient absorption. Anyone with a weakened immune system will also benefit a lot from increasing their zinc intake. So, if you have any chronic illnesses or get a lot of colds, make sure you take zinc regularly!
Even if you’re generally healthy, zinc can boost your energy levels and promote healthy skin, hair and nails, so it really is good for everyone.
Another thing to remember is that when you exercise, you’re likely to sweat. When you sweat, you lose nutrients, including zinc. So, to make sure we’re maintaining zinc and all of the other essential nutrients that our body needs, we need to consume enough zinc and nutrient filled foods.
So how can you get enough zinc? Of course you can take daily supplements; however, the most effective way is to try to eat foods high in zinc. For example:-
● Oysters – these are one of the best sources of zinc (although not to everyone’s taste!). They provide over 400% of your recommended daily intake per 100g, so if you like oysters, this is an easy solution;
● Beef – Another great source, with 30% of your recommended daily allowance per 100g;
● Pumpkin seeds – For around 20% of your recommended daily intake, get munching on a quarter-cup of these for a snack;
● Chickpeas – Another good source for all of you veggie’s out there with about 15% of your recommended daily intake per cup;
● Dark chocolate – yes, you heard right. Finally, a legitimate excuse to get that chocolate out! With 10% of your recommended daily intake per ounce, this is a great option.
Just to complicate things further, it must be noted that zinc comes in different forms, so when you’re looking to add a supplement to your daily routine, be aware that some forms are more effectively absorbed than others.
Here are some examples of the different forms of zinc that you can take as a supplement:-
● Zinc Acetate – This works by reducing the amount of copper that your body absorbs. Why is this important? High levels of copper can result in liver damage and gastrointestinal symptoms. Zinc Acetate is also added to cold medicines to reduce symptoms and to speed up recovery.
● Zinc Sulfate – This is mainly used to treat issues with zinc deficiency. Another use for this is that it may help to reduce severity of acne.
● Zinc Picolinate – This is a mineral that has many different uses. From promoting blood sugar control, supporting bone health and boosting immunity, it also may help to improve heart and eye health. This is considered to be one of the most efficiently absorbed variety of zinc.
Generally, make sure to consult your doctor before taking any supplements, as any medications you currently take may affect the amount and type of zinc that you’re able to take.
However, zinc is a crucial mineral and you should absolutely be incorporating more zinc-rich food/ supplements into your diet.
With benefits to your immune system, boosted energy levels and improvements to your overall health and wellbeing, what are you waiting for?! Start incorporating more zinc into your daily routine today!