Zinc - often overlooked

Thursday 11th March 2010 9:09am

zinc

When most people think of Zinc they think of old fashioned fences and old gutters in need of a paint but did you know that  Zinc is one of those humble trace elements that we should never be without.

Zinc is found in every cell of the body and is essential for health and well being.

The Australian RDI for Zinc is:

A wide variety of foods contain zinc. Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food, but red meat and poultry provide the majority of zinc in the diet. Other good food sources include beans, nuts, certain types of seafood (such as crab and lobster), whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, and dairy products.

Phytates—which are present in whole-grain breads, cereals, legumes, and other foods—bind zinc and inhibit its absorption. Thus, the bioavailability of zinc from grains and plant foods is lower than that from animal foods, although many grain- and plant-based foods are still good sources of zinc and are especially important for people who like to limit their meat intake.

The wide availability of this mineral in common foodstuffs means that overt zinc deficiency is uncommon. However zinc deficiency does occur and is usually due to inadequate zinc intake or absorption, increased losses of zinc from the body, or increased requirements for zinc. People at risk of zinc deficiency or inadequacy need to include good sources of zinc in their daily diets.

Zinc supplements are not only useful to treat and prevent deficiency, but may be useful in conditions such as the common cold, poor wound healing and leg ulcers, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, acne vulgaris, warts, ADHD and tinnitus.

Supplemental Zinc comes in different forms. Chelated Zinc is a general term for forms of Zinc where Zinc is combined with Amino Acids.  The Amino Acids in Chelated Zinc facilitate the absorption of Zinc.  Chelated Zinc consists of 80% - 90% Amino Acids bound to 10 - 20% Zinc.

Supplemental zinc might be appropriate in certain situations.

Supplementation can also assist with the bodies immune function:

Zinc supplements are also used by athletes to counteract zinc loss that occurs through perspiration.

Zinc may not be a supplement that is required daily as food sources are generally sufficient to meet your body’s needs but in times of sickness and herb Valley’s Chelated Zinc can be particularly beneficial.

This information is not intended as a substitute for qualified medical advice. Please consult a properly qualified health care practitioner.