Zinc is essential in supporting our immune systems by helping cells lining our organs and skin guard against pathogens entering. Furthermore, zinc supports cell function and DNA synthesis.
Zinc deficiency can result in poor growth, reduced senses of taste and smell, hair loss, diarrhea, weight loss and decreased immunity – among other symptoms. Zinc is easily absorbed from food sources such as meats, fish beans and fortified foods like breads and cereals.
1. Strengthens the Immune System
Zinc is essential to many body functions, from healing wounds to repairing DNA. But its primary importance lies in helping protect you against harmful bacteria and viruses invading the system.
Zinc provides essential frontline defense support, enhancing white blood cells’ abilities to attack pathogens while sending chemical signals that recruit more cellular soldiers. Furthermore, zinc promotes healthy T-cell development – keeping an army ready to swiftly fight any infections you encounter!
Severe zinc deficiency is extremely rare; however, milder forms are common among children from low-income countries who do not receive enough of this mineral in their diet and those taking certain immune-suppressing drugs for cancer or other conditions. Signs of zinc deficiency include diarrhea, thinning hair, skin rashes and chronic infections.
Scientists are still exploring how zinc boosts immune responses and protects against disease, but new research suggests it works in two distinct ways. Ohio State University team found that zinc targets an out-of-control response pathway during infection and works to block it; their discovery could explain why taking zinc pills early can quickly ease symptoms associated with colds.
2. Strengthens Bones
Zinc is an essential mineral, providing immune support and helping the body create proteins and DNA, aiding childhood development, and providing antioxidant properties. Zinc can be found naturally in many foods or as dietary supplements; industrial uses include corrosion-resistant zinc plating of iron as well as cosmetic applications like anti-dandruff shampoos.
Research published by 2020 indicates that zinc benefits bone health by decreasing the risk of osteoporosis. Furthermore, its inclusion in skin, hair and nail vitamins facilitates wound healing processes.
Zinc deficiency is relatively uncommon among industrialized nations, though it can occur among people with certain genetic mutations, alcohol abusers and those taking immune-suppressing medications. Severe deficiency may result in symptoms including loss of appetite, poor growth, skin rashes, diarrhea and impaired wound healing – zinc supplements and eating healthily can prevent deficiency from developing further.
3. Helps Prevent Cancer
Zinc is essential to the growth and development of all cells, including immune cells. Zinc plays an integral part in producing antibodies and other innate immune responses as well as maintaining normal functioning thymus and bone marrow – two locations responsible for producing immune cells – while also playing an active role in adapting immunity responses including cell-mediated immunity as well as humoral immunity.
Zinc signals in the immune system are predominantly controlled by metallothionein (MT). This zinc-binding protein has seven binding sites for different ligands and thus modulates various zinc receptors as well as cytokine signaling pathways. More specifically, it promotes activity of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases and MAPK phosphatases in monocytes while inhibiting NF-kB activation in B cells [27].
Research published in 2018 indicates that zinc supplementation could play an integral part in preventing metabolic syndrome by improving insulin resistance and glucose tolerance, increasing adiponectin levels, lowering triglycerides and delaying age-related macular degeneration onset[29]. A diet consisting of seafood, poultry, lean meats, nuts & seeds legumes whole grains dark chocolate is all good sources of zinc [30-34].
4. Helps Control Blood Sugar
Zinc has been shown to aid in the prevention of diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels and improving glycemic control. It does this by stimulating enzymes that regulate carbohydrate metabolism, decreasing glucose absorption in the intestinal tract, and encouraging its synthesis and storage in glycogen stores.
Studies have also demonstrated how zinc reduces oxidative stress, which has been linked with the development of diabetes and other chronic illnesses. By decreasing this oxidative stress, zinc helps decrease advanced glycation end products (AGEs) associated with developing diabetes as well as its related micro-vascular and macro-vascular complications.
Zinc supplements provided to individuals with type 2 diabetes demonstrated improvements in fasting serum glucose and two-hour postprandial glucose, as well as improvements in their glycemic control and symptoms associated with diabetic neuropathy, such as burning and itching.
Diets low in zinc are becoming increasingly common, particularly among those following restrictive diets such as veganism or vegetarianism or those avoiding gluten. It is essential that we get enough zinc through food and supplementation – BetterYou offers vegan and gluten-free supplements to make sure we receive enough of this essential mineral!
5. Helps Combat Stress
Zinc is an essential trace mineral essential to over 300 enzyme reactions, such as cell growth, DNA synthesis, protein production and immune function. Furthermore, healthy senses of taste and smell depend on zinc’s presence.
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of zinc to lessen the duration of respiratory tract infections such as colds and influenza. Adults require 11 mg a day of zinc while women should use slightly less.
Zinc intake should increase during gestation and nursing. Zinc is essential to good health at any age; however, its importance increases during periods of rapid growth such as childhood, adolescence and pregnancy.
Zinc may interact with certain medications, including doxycycline (Vibramycin), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), and cisplatin (Platinol-AQ). Zinc should not be taken with immunosuppressant drugs like corticosteroids and cyclosporine; always consult your physician prior to taking supplements of any kind, particularly if you have any dietary restrictions or chronic illnesses; BetterYou offers vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free vitamins that can provide essential nutrition to support overall wellbeing.
