The Lowdown on Zinc
Zinc is an antioxidant that occurs naturally in many foods like fish, beans, and meat. It is not produced by the body, so the zinc we need must come from the foods we eat, or the supplements we take. Zinc supports immune function and may treat diarrhea, promote wound healing, and more.
As mentioned, consuming zinc through your daily diet should offer you enough of the antioxidant to fulfill the recommended daily requirement. However, certain conditions may necessitate the taking of a zinc supplement. The reasons why you should consider taking a zinc supplement include:
Bariatric Surgery/Inflammatory Bowel Disease: These situations affect how much zinc your body can absorb and increase the amount of zinc that is lost when you use the bathroom.
Vegetarian/Vegan Diet: Following a diet that does not include meat, the primary source of zinc, can result in a deficiency. While white beans and whole grains contain zinc, they also contain antioxidants called phytates which interfere with how your body absorbs zinc.
Pregnant/Breastfeeding: Zinc is vital for development and growth of a fetus before it’s born, as well as crucial for supporting healthy infant development. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, getting the daily recommended amount of zinc is very important.
Substance Abuse: Alcohol lowers zinc absorption and also increases the amount of zinc lost when you use the bathroom.
Meet the Daily Recommended Amount: As stated above, meeting the recommended daily amount of zinc should be achievable through a healthy diet. However, the amount of zinc a person needs fluctuates throughout life, and so does their diet. For example, if you don’t consume a lot of protein, you may be deficient in zinc.
A daily zinc supplement can ensure you’re getting what your body needs to function properly. Because zinc is such a critical component in so many bodily processes, it’s necessary to get the amount you need.
Benefits of Zinc Supplements
There are many benefits that come with taking a zinc supplement. The advantages towards improving your wellness may be helped along greatly by adding a zinc supplement to your daily routine. The benefits that zinc supplements may provide include:
- Improving Immune Function: The body needs zinc for the immune system to work properly. Low levels of zinc can lead to infections, such as pneumonia. While a zinc supplement will not take away the severity of cold, supplements may shorten the duration of a cold.
- Treating Diarrhea: Zinc supplementation may help shorten bouts of diarrhea in both children and adults. Zinc benefits children with diarrhea because it is a vital micronutrient essential for protein synthesis, cell growth, immune function, and intestinal transport of water and electrolytes.
In adults, zinc supplementation has been shown to reduce the duration and severity of diarrhea, and to prevent subsequent episodes.
- Protecting Eyesight: Studies suggest that taking 80 milligrams (mg) of a zinc supplement, along with other vitamins for eye health, can lower the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and vision loss by 25%. People with AMD are at risk of losing their eyesight if the disease progresses.
Extra zinc may also help protect your retinas (the part of your eyes that converts light into the signals your brain uses to create images) from free radicals that cause cell damage.
- Lowering Blood Sugar & Cholesterol: It is unknown why, but many people with Type 2 diabetes are low in zinc. Some experts believe that low zinc levels may make the disease worse, and that the addition of zinc may lower blood sugar and high cholesterol levels.
- Promoting Wound Healing: Research is still underway, but supplementing with zinc may speed up the healing of diabetes-related foot ulcers and other skin ulcers. Zinc oxide is a proven treatment for diaper rash, so the research is expanding to uncover what zinc supplements can do for wound healing.
- Boosting Sperm Quality: A small study found that people who were experiencing infertility saw an improvement in sperm quality after taking a zinc supplement.
The possible benefits of zinc supplements are promising as more research continues to be done. We do know that the proper amount of zinc in the body is imperative to a normal functioning body. If you’re considering taking a zinc supplement, a great place to start is with 10X Health!
10X Health Zinc Supplements
10X Health, a global leader in the wellness industry, offers a daily zinc 30 mg supplement to protect your body and help aid in the proper functioning of it. 10X Health provides supplements that use only the best ingredients on the market.
If you’re looking to start a zinc supplement, look no further than 10X Health, and order your first bottle today.
