Zinc Benefits
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Zinc's benefits include:
- Zinc is needed for proper growth and reproduction
Zinc is especially required for the synthesis of DNA and RNA (the nucleic acids that exist in cells that assist with cell division, reproduction and repair). Many studies have shown that low zinc levels in pregnancy can be associated with a higher risk of complications such as miscarriage and birth defects. - Zinc is very important for children
Zinc is a vital nutrient for children, as it helps them grow and develop normally, while low levels of zinc cause stunted and suboptimal growth, loss of taste, behavioural problems, lethargy and poor appetite (which further exacerbates the suboptimal growth and development in children). - Zinc is important for eye health
The eyes have very high concentrations of zinc (especially the iris and retina). The eyes need adequate levels of zinc to maintain healthy eyesight. Zinc helps to activate vitamin A (a vitamin essential for eye health and which has high concentrations in the eye) in the eye and prevent conditions such as cataracts, optic neuritis, inflammation of the eye and impaired colour discrimination. - Zinc is required to make many hormones
The body relies on zinc to help create many hormones, including hormones that control growth, the important male hormone testosterone and hormones that instruct the immune system on what action to take when the body is under attack from bacteria, fungi or viruses. - Zinc limits excessive prolactin levels
Studies show that zinc limits the productions of the female hormone prolactin, which if too high, can cause secretion of breast milk in women who are not pregnant, enlarged breasts and sexual dysfunction. Studies show that zinc supplements reduce these problems when used in people with elevated prolactin levels. - Zinc is needed for a healthy pancreas
Zinc is necessary for the health of the pancreas, as it forms part of essential coenzyme constituents which enable the pancreas to function properly when it releases the hormones insulin or glucagon. - Zinc is important for a healthy thymus gland
Zinc is important in the health of the thymus gland, which is where the special white blood cells that fight infection are sent from the bone marrow (where they are created) to mature and enable their infection fighting abilities. These special white blood cells that are sent to the thymus gland are called T lymphocytes (or T cells) and they carry out the immune response in reaction to an invading pathogen (bacteria, fungi, virus) to prevent it from causing infection and illness and the T cells have a lot of zinc inside them.
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- Zinc is important for a healthy immune system
Zinc is vitally important for a healthy immune system, as it helps to create healthy white blood cells, helps to create the antibodies (which provide immunity to a number of pathogens) and provides a protective and enhancing effect on the immune system as a whole. Studies show that people who have lower than optimal zinc levels, often experience more frequent infections which are of a longer duration. Other studies on both animals and humans have shown that people (or animals) with low zinc levels experience abnormalities and shrinking of the spleen, thymus and lymph nodes (which are all involved in immunity) as well as a decreased production amount of the antibodies and T cells. Other research has shown that people with lowered zinc levels (especially if accompanied with high copper levels) are associated with many types of cancers and in fact if people with lung cancer have a higher blood levels of zinc, they tend to have a longer survival rate. - Zinc helps the body fight off colds and flu
Many studies have shown that zinc helps the body fight fight the effects of colds and flu more quickly and lessens the effects and duration of any viral or bacterial infection that does progress into a cold or flu. Zinc helps to reduce the symptoms of a cold or flu, such as a runny nose, coughing and sore throat. The best way to get the most out of zinc is to start taking it at the first sign of a cold or flu (such as slightly sore throat, sneezing), before it takes hold and develops more debilitating symptoms, when the infection can be a lot harder to stop. Zinc lozenges are a great way to take zinc, as they can relieve the upper respiratory symptoms quite well. Zinc lozenges are usually in the form of zinc gluconate and should be taken as directed on the packet. - Zinc is important for healthy skin, hair and nails
Zinc is especially vital for the health of skin, hair and nails. Studies show that low zinc levels can be attributed to minor skin rashes and irritations that clear up once zinc has been supplemented. Zinc also helps to clear up psoriasis on the skin. If there is a major zinc deficiency, it presents as white spots on the fingernails or nails that are weak and break easily. Supplementation with zinc or adding more foods high in zinc can help to alleviate deficiency and resolve the nail health problems. - Zinc is important for prostate gland health
Zinc is required for a healthy prostate gland, which naturally contains very high levels of zinc. Low levels of zinc in the prostate gland generally signify that the prostate gland is unhealthy and not functioning properly. Studies show that men who have benign prostatic hyperplasia (non-cancerous prostate condition where the prostate enlarges), find significant relief from the symptoms of this condition (the prostate size decreases) if they are given zinc supplements. Research also shows that zinc stops certain male hormones from attaching to cells in the prostate gland and reducing the risk of prostate cancer and other diseases of the prostate gland. - Zinc is important for male fertility
Many studies have shown that zinc is very vital for healthy male fertility, although the researchers have suggested that the mechanism of the actual activity of zinc is not clear, there is a definite link between blood levels of zinc and fertility. Studies show that low levels of zinc in men are linked to lower levels of sperm and lower quality of sperm, while high healthy levels of zinc are linked to normal and healthy sperm. - Zinc helps the body heal wounds quickly
Zinc is needed to help the body recover from any type of wound or injury (even surgery) because it helps to stimulate the healing process. When there is injury to the body, all the stores of zinc are used to help with the healing of the wound and more is needed to make sure healing occurs quickly as quite a lot of the zinc in the body can be lost when the body is injured.