Zinc: Absolutely Essential for Our Diet

Zinc: Absolutely Essential for Our Diet

Zinc is one of those minerals that play a huge role in your body.

The human body contains about 2-3 g (2,000-3,000 milligrams) of zinc. Much of it is found in your adrenals, brain and eyes.

Zinc is essential for many physiological functions, including structure in certain proteins and enzymes, and regulation of gene expression.

It is also important for the role of the immune system, wound healing, protein synthesis, cell health and DNA synthesis.

Zinc plays a powerful role in skin health, helping with regeneration of cells, wound healing and inflammation.

Zinc Deficiency

Zinc is an antioxidant which is essential for the immune system and helping to prevent allergies, colds and flus.

If you are low in zinc, there are a number of symptoms that can show up in your body. Here are some examples of zinc deficiency symptoms:

 1. Hair Loss
 2. Diarrhea
 3. Sexual Difficulties
 4. Infections and Delayed Wound Healing
 5. Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss
 6. Cognitive Impairment

If you’re eating a balanced diet, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about zinc deficiency.

However, it’s good to understand the effects that such deficiency can have on your body and to know foods that can help replenish your zinc levels if you’re deficient.

Foods High in Zinc

The recommended daily amount of this mineral is 15 milligrams which is quite easy to obtain as zinc is present in a variety of foods.

The best sources of zinc are from animal sources. Foods high in zinc are red meat such as beef and lamb.

Seafood is also super high in zinc so getting oysters, scallops, and other shellfish into your diet helps increase zinc uptake by the body.

Example of plant foods high in zinc are pulses, seeds, and nuts. Soy foods are high in zinc; 1/2 cup of cooked soybeans contains one mg of zinc.

Our soya bean milk powder is one of best way to take zinc in your daily life!

Especially, because this year, 2016, is the UN International Year of Pulses for raising awareness of the nutritional benefits of pulses, take more beans!

In addition, getting more sun exposure or eating foods rich in vitamin D and A can help improve zinc absorption and Vitamin B6 is needed for proper utilization of zinc.

http://draxe.com/zinc-deficiency/

 http://urbanwired.com/health/foods-rich-in-zinc-which-are-good-for-health/

http://authenticselfwellness.com/2015/06/all-about-zinc-2/

https://www.amoils.com/health-blog/zinc-and-how-to-avoid-a-deficiency-of-this-mineral/