Zinc is an important nutrient that your body needs. It is essential for immune support, wound healing, growth, and development. Since our bodies do not produce zinc on their own, we need to make sure our diets contain foods rich in zinc. These foods consist of a large variety of plants and animals. There are also supplements as well as foods fortified with synthetic forms of zinc. Since zinc is such a vital nutrient to our diet, the benefits are important and worth reviewing.
Great news is that zinc does naturally exist in many foods! From meat, to whole grains and vegetables, you will receive a nice boost of zinc upon consumption. Think of foods that are high in protein and these will be your top foods to get your daily amount of zinc from. Zinc can help you maintain a healthy immune system as it can boost T-cell production which fights toxins and other foreign substances that are detrimental to your health. Looking to improve your gut health? Zinc can help to repair your intestinal tract, further allowing it to absorb nutrients. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it assists in wound healing. Zinc is often the first treatment intervention hospitals will use on burn victims as well as for other skin injuries. On a lighter note, since acne can be considered a skin wound in certain stages, it can treat that too! It can also decrease inflammation throughout the body. Zinc can improve eye health and has the potential to slow or even prevent age-related macular degeneration.
Zinc is a nutrient that is crucial to the health of our bodies. Luckily, it is found naturally in many of the foods we consume. There is a long list of benefits to focusing on getting our daily intake of zinc. It is always important to review your questions on zinc and starting a zinc supplement with your primary care physician.