Health BENEFITS of Zinc:
- supports a strong immune system
- helps speed up wound healing
- promotes male fertility
- supports cell repair and growth
- aids in the treatment of acne
- helps produce and mediate disease-fighting T-cells
- aids in decreasing bio-markers of oxidative stress
- helps fight infection
- can reduce the severity of colds and flu
- helps reduce chronic inflammation
- assists in reducing stress levels
- important for the senses of taste, smell, vision, and hearing
- helps slow down age-related macular degeneration
- necessary for the formation of insulin inside the pancreas
- aids in appetite control and weight loss
- helps stimulate digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid
- helps produce muscle-building testosterone
Foods HIGH in Zinc:
- asparagus
- beef
- beets
- black beans
- carrots
- cashews
- coconut
- dark chocolate
- eggs
- garbanzo beans
- green peas
- lamb
- leafy greens
- lentils
- mushrooms
- oats
- onion
- oysters
- poultry
- pumpkin seeds
- quinoa
- shellfish
- shrimp
- spinach
- sprouts
- turkey
Things to KNOW About Zinc:
Zinc is the second most common trace mineral after iron and is present in every living cell. The amount of zinc that your body absorbs from your diet can vary from 15% to 40%. The more zinc you already have present in your body, the less you will absorb.
There are other factors that can affect your body's ability to absorb zinc. For example, your body can absorb the zinc found in animal products more easily than the zinc found in plant foods. This is due to fiber and phytates (antioxidant compounds) found in plant foods that bind to zinc, preventing its absorption.