Zinc

Zinc benefits the body in many ways:

• It helps with hormone production, growth, and repairment; improves immunity and facilitates digestion.
• Its ability to act as an anti-inflammatory agent may also have significant therapeutic benefits for several common or chronic diseases like fighting cancer or reversing heart disease.
• It is found in cells throughout the body.
• It is needed for the body's immune system to work properly in order to keep harmful pathogens away.
• It plays a role in cell division, cell growth, wound healing, and the breakdown of carbohydrates. I
• t is also needed for the senses of smell and taste.
• During pregnancy, infancy, and childhood the body needs zinc to grow and develop properly.
• Without enough zinc present in your diet, it’s possible to experience negative reactions like frequently getting sick, feeling like you’re always tired and run down, hair loss, loss of appetite, skin sores, night blindness, poor concentration, stunted growth, and the inability to heal wounds quickly.

Though the actual amount of zinc necessary to support the human body is quite small, its effects on the body are astronomical. An average adult woman should consume about 7 milligrams of this mineral daily, while an average male should be consuming 9.5 milligrams daily. The risk for women to have a zinc deficiency is much greater than a man, especially if they are malnourished because of an eating disorder or when they are breastfeeding.

It is present in a variety of foods that many people consume daily. The food with the most zinc per serving is oysters. Animal proteins are also a good source of this mineral - Beef, pork, and lamb contain more zinc than fish. Other good sources are nuts, whole grains, legumes, and yeast. Fruits & vegetables are not very good sources because this mineral in plant proteins is not as available for use by the body as the zinc from animal proteins. Therefore, low-protein diets and vegetarian diets tend to be low in zinc. Thus, it is especially important for vegetarians to maintain a substantial level of zinc in their bodies all the time through external food sources or supplements.

Here at HealthyWorld, our category of zinc-rich foods include sunflower seeds, oyster sauce, cashews, olive oil and various other nutritional supplements which can help you to manage the required level of zinc in your body or to cure its deficiency. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this is cumulative throughout the day, so you shouldn’t try to meet that requirement in one sitting, or with one single food item. Zinc supplements taken in large amounts may cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting.

Thus, it is prudent to have a consistent and appropriate level of zinc content in your body for a healthy lifestyle.