What is Zinc?
Zinc is an essential nutrient, which means your body cannot produce it or store it. This means that a constant supply of zinc through your diet is necessary. Zinc can be found in a number of plant and animal foods which naturally contain zinc, and in other foods that have been fortified with the mineral.
Getting the zinc you need from a healthy, balanced diet is possible, however supplementing zinc ensures your body is getting what it needs to function properly. Your body uses zinc to do the following:
- Heal Wounds
- Support the Immune System
- Develop your Reproductive System
- Develop your Sense of Taste and Smell
- Produce & Store Insulin
- Help Your Thyroid & Metabolism Work Properly
- Make Proteins and DNA
Zinc has also been shown to improve the common cold, diarrhea, and age-related macular degeneration.
What Do Zinc Supplements Do?
Many people reach for zinc lozenges or supplements when they start to feel a cold coming on, and that’s a smart thing to do. Viruses are the most common causes of colds, in particular viruses called rhinoviruses. Research has shown that zinc blocks the rhinovirus from getting into cells!
Stopping a cold in its tracks is a great reason to take a zinc supplement, but there are plenty of reasons to make sure that you get your daily dose of zinc!
Reasons to Take a Zinc Supplement
Zinc is a cofactor for more than 300 enzymes, which means it’s needed for their proper functioning. Enzymes speed up chemical reactions in our bodies and are an essential part of digestion, growth, blood clotting, muscle function and more. So, without the proper amount of zinc in the body, major bodily functions for ordinary living cannot take place.
Making sure you’re getting enough zinc is important to your overall wellness. Here are some reasons why taking a zinc supplement may be a good idea:
Treat a Zinc Deficiency: Although zinc deficiencies are rare, they can cause a plethora of wellness issues. Symptoms of a zinc deficiency include decreased immunity, hair loss, poor appetite, diarrhea, and slow wound healing. Studies show that a zinc supplement can effectively increase zinc levels in the blood.
Improve Immunity: As mentioned before, zinc has been proven to reduce the longevity and severity of the common cold (rhinovirus). It is often an ingredient in many over the counter medications and natural remedies due to its ability to boost immunity and fight inflammation.
According to a review of 28 studies, zinc may even prevent the symptoms and shorten the duration of certain respiratory tract infections.
Manage Blood Sugar: Low zinc levels are often associated with diabetes. One study found that prediabetic individuals are more likely to be zinc deficient, and at any level body mass index (BMI), people with lower zinc levels are more insulin resistant than those with higher zinc levels. Supplementing with zinc may improve your body’s ability to use insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Enhance Heart Health: Zinc levels decline with age, just about the same time that the risk for cardiovascular disease increases. Studies have found that zinc levels are often significantly lower in people with conditions like atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, angina, and reduced blood flow to the heart. Studies show that supplementing with zinc can prevent and treat angina.
Slow Macular Degeneration: Macular degeneration is a common eye disease and one of the leading causes of vision loss. Zinc supplements have been shown to slow the progression of macular degeneration and may even improve nutrient flow in the retina to protect against disease.
Protect Against Hair Loss: Zinc’s role in hair follicle development and maintenance is pivotal. Zinc supports the production and function of various cells within the hair follicles, including those responsible for synthesizing keratin, the protein that forms the structural building blocks of our hair strands. Zinc supplements may have a positive impact on hair health and may be beneficial for people experiencing hair loss.
Zinc supplementation can aid the body in many ways. Because zinc is such a crucial mineral to so many functions in the human body, making sure you are getting enough of it is vital for wellness. Zinc supplements are not hard to find, so choosing one may seem overwhelming…we can help.
Where to Find the Best Zinc Supplements
10X Health, a leader in the global wellness industry, has many supplements to offer those looking for the best of the best in supplementation. 10X Health sources only the finest, most high-quality ingredients on the market and does not dilute their supplements with fillers or additives.
If you’re looking for a premier zinc supplement, look no further than 10X Health. Order your 10X Health zinc supplements today!
