Zinc is an essential nutrient for the human body, so your body can’t make or store it. It is not produced by the body naturally, so you have to obtain it through food and supplements.
Zinc is naturally present in most plants and animal food sources. Foods highest in zinc include shellfish, meat, poultry, fish, legumes, nuts and seeds, dairy products, eggs, whole grain, and certain vegetables.
Zinc is the most abundant trace mineral in the human body after iron, and it is present in every cell. Zinc has a critical role in the development and function of immune cells. It has a role in the activity of approximately 300 enzymes that help in digestion, metabolism, nerve function, and many other processes.
Your body’s growth and development fundamentally depend upon zinc because of its role in cell growth and division. Zinc is also necessary for skin health, DNA synthesis, and protein production.
If your body is deficient in zinc, you may not be able to taste or smell properly. Zinc needed for the synthesis of one of the enzymes crucial for taste and smell, so a deficiency in zinc may reduce the ability to smell or taste drastically.
Zinc is also vital in collagen synthesis, and inflammatory response, so it is necessary for proper healing. Your skin holds about 5% of the body’s zinc content. For this reason, zinc commonly used for the treatment of burns, ulcers, and other skin injuries. A person deficient in zinc has slow wound healing, and supplementing with zinc is the best way around.
When talking about skin, acne is a skin disease that affects most of the world’s population. People with lower levels of zinc tend to have more acne. Research suggests that both oral and topical zinc treatments can treat acne by inhibiting the growth of bacteria, reducing inflammation, and by suppressing oil glands activity.
You can avoid age-related diseases by taking care of zinc levels. Zinc relieves oxidative stress and improves the activity of the immune system by boosting immune cells. People with a balanced level of zinc in their bodies tend to have a reduced risk of pneumonia, infection, age-related muscle degeneration, and vision loss.
Children who suffer from zinc deficiency have alterations in the immune response that mostly leads to increased susceptibility to infections such as acute diarrhea. A low level of zinc also leads to loss of appetite, growth retardation, and impaired immune functions.
Zinc deficiency negatively affects the reproductive health of females and males. Research suggests that zinc is a crucial factor in egg cell development. It also plays a role in cell division, fertilization, DNA regulation, and embryo development. Studies show that low levels of zinc or deficiency in zinc is associated with low testosterone levels, poor sperm quality, and an increased risk of male infertility.
Clinical studies suggest that low levels of zinc intake contribute to the symptoms of depression, and patients suffering from depression have a lower serum zinc level. It also leads to increased anxiety, irritability, emotional instability, and induced deficits in social behavior.
The bottom line is, zinc helps in almost every function of your body, so keep your zinc levels in check!
Until Next Time,
Team Doctor ASKY!