Did you know that more than 300 unique enzymes need zinc to work effectively? Zinc is found in each cell of your body. It is involved directly in nearly every single bodily process that you can think of.
But that’s not all that makes zinc an amazing mineral. Zinc also has the power to boost your immune system in a special way. Zinc helps to keep many viral and infectious conditions at bay. Because a severe deficiency in zinc causes major loss of immune function, researchers have known for some time that this mineral is linked to the production of infection-fighting white blood cells.
In one study, zinc was found to decrease the occurrence of infection in the elderly. Zinc also plays a role in wound-healing, a healthy prostate gland, increased sperm production, immune support, digesting food, energy production, cellular growth and repair, the creation of collagen, bone strength, your cognitive function, breaking down carbohydrates, producing insulin, using glucose, and more. Clearly, keeping zinc levels up is vital to your good health!
What is one of the best food sources of zinc? Oysters. Here are some other foods high in zinc:
- Fortified cereal
- All meat
- Whole grains such as oats, rye, and whole wheat
- Nuts and peanut butter
- Yogurt
- Baked beans
- Peas
- Cheese, especially cheddar
Besides food sources of zinc, there are some other forms that could help you with various health complaints. Try zinc lozenges to relieve the symptoms of a cold. Zinc lozenges fight the virus that causes cold symptoms and could prevent it from spreading into your throat and further into your respiratory tract. You can also use zinc in the form of a nasal spray when you are specifically trying to fight a respiratory infection.
Supplementing with zinc could help prevent macular degeneration from destroying part of your vision. Research has also shown that zinc supplementation may be beneficial in the treatment of acne, herpes, Alzheimer’s, and sickle-cell anemia.