The Importance of Zinc To Your Body

January 23, 2010 Filed Under: Vitamins

There is often a problem when choosing vitamins and supplements as it isn’t always easy to know what the body needs or if you’re getting enough of one vitamin or supplement or not. Take zinc supplements for example – they provide important minerals that are needed by your body’s cells. The body is unable to produce zinc on it’s own, which is why we need to makes sure we eat enough food that contains this mineral.

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Zinc is very important, as it plays a crucial role connected to hundreds of processes in the human body. The most prominent functions include support of the immune system, joints, tissues, along with aiding in cell growth. Zinc supplements have also been proven to eliminate sexual dysfunction, boost sexual function, aid in healthy hair, and help with healing skin wounds.

Zinc plays an important role in the function of most of our senses, which includes the ability to taste, smell as well as vision. Research has indicated that zinc can counter vision loss in the event of degeneration. A deficiency of zinc on the other hand can lead to dulling of the taste buds, as well as a decrease in the ability to smell.

Zinc is found in oysters, and to some degree in most foods such as beans, nuts, almonds, whole grains, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. A turkey’s neck and beef shank also contain excellent amounts of zinc. Phytates, which are found in whole grain breads, cereals, legumes and other products, have been known to decrease zinc absorption. Clinical studies show that zinc combined with antioxidants, may delay progression of age-related macular degeneration. Significant dietary intake of zinc has also recently been shown to give you a better chance of not getting influenza.

Having said that – although zinc is an essential mineral for our bodies, taking too much of it can have bad results and side effects. Taking more than 100 mg daily for an extended period has for some caused damage to the immune system.

When taking zinc supplements, it can interfere with the absorption of copper. For this reason, a lot of experts recommend that they should be taken together. Anyone who takes a zinc supplement should take it as part of a well balanced diet, to ensure that other vitamins and minerals work together with the zinc.

With most dietary supplements you should always choose a manufacturer that is compliant with the regulations valid in your part of the world – these may vary from country to country, so be sure to check first to make sure that the zinc manufacturers follow the manufacturing standards of zinc, to minimize and quite possibly eliminate the risk of any contaminants that you could be getting from the supplement.

Zinc isn’t expensive and can be bought at most chemists – but you should always consult with your doctor first if you suspect that you have a zinc deficiency, a physician will be able to tell you exactly how much zinc you need on a daily basis.