Zinc Intake and Its Effects on Our Health

Although you might only think of zinc during the cold and flu season, it is a vital mineral that is present in all of your organs, tissues, and physiological fluids. Additionally, zinc is your body's second-most prevalent trace mineral after iron. You might be shocked to find that your body does not retain zinc because it is essential to numerous biological activities. Instead, it must be ingested consistently, either through your diet or a top-notch supplement.

Vital bodily functions including blood clotting, cell division, immunity, thyroid health, smell, taste, eyesight, and wound healing are all supported by zinc. Dairy products, almonds, red meat, and shellfish are all excellent sources of zinc in the diet. Although zinc may be found in plants like spinach, asparagus, beans, and green peas, it is more readily absorbed via meat and other animal proteins. You are more likely to have a zinc deficit if you consume alcohol or are a vegetarian, are expecting or nursing, have a digestive issue or sickle cell disease, are pregnant, or are lactating. You might not be consuming enough zinc-rich foods on a daily basis to reach optimal levels of this crucial vitamin, even if you believe yourself to be healthy.

Why Your Body Needs Zinc?

Beyond aiding the body's ability to combat the common cold and flu, zinc has many other vital functions. In actuality, zinc has more biological processes than all the other trace elements combined. For instance, 300 different enzymes in your body need zinc to operate properly. In addition, according to a study, nearly 3,000 of the roughly 100,000 proteins in your body include zinc mostly. The body needs zinc for:

• Blood clotting and wound healing

• Gene transcription (the process that allows your cells to read genetic instructions)

• Sense of smell and taste

• Blood sugar balance

• Immune system support

• Thyroid health

• Cell division and growth

• Mood

• Vision

Zinc aids in DNA repair and shields your body from oxidative stress. While your body's natural functions (such as breathing and digesting) naturally result in some degree of oxidative stress, there are numerous other variables, such as air pollution, radiation, mental stress, and obesity, that can result in an overabundance of free radicals in your body.

Zinc's Effect on Your Immunity, Mood and Thyroid

• Immune system —You are already aware of zinc's involvement in boosting your immune system if you have ever taken zinc lozenges at the first symptoms of a cold or to assist decrease the length of a cold, flu, or illness. The body's T cells, specific white blood cells tasked with eliminating infectious cells, are activated by zinc, which is essential for this process. Your body may be attempting to warn you it needs extra zinc if you suffer from bacterial infections or colds frequently. Zinc pills can be helpful in treating bacterial conditions including acne, body odor, and dandruff due to its immune-boosting qualities.

• Mood — Your body probably has too little zinc if you experience depression. Researchers have discovered low zinc levels in the serum blood of those who are sad, which implies zinc deficiency may be the cause of a persistently bad mood. Your hippocampus, which is the area of your brain responsible for emotion, memory, and learning, shrinks as a result of depression. Zinc is regarded as a key component in the therapy of depression since research has demonstrated that it can shield your brain from the inflammation brought on by emotional stress. Additionally, zinc stimulates the body's creation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a critical metabolic compound required to combat depression and brain inflammation.

• Thyroid —Zinc contributes to the production of thyroid releasing hormone in your brain, which instructs your pituitary gland to produce thyroid stimulating hormone, which is relevant to the health of your thyroid. Low T3 levels are correlated with low zinc levels, which also affect your body's capacity to convert T4 to T3—a process that calls on enough selenium storage. Many of the symptoms of low thyroid, like chilly hands and feet, a slow metabolism, and thinning hair, can occur when your zinc levels are low. Additionally, zinc aids in the binding of your thyroid hormone to the DNA receptors in your cells. Even if your blood levels of thyroid hormone are normal, your body cannot utilise it efficiently if you are zinc deficient.

Four Signs You May Be Zinc Deficient

At least 2 billion individuals are considered to be zinc deficient, which is widespread in developing countries. Moreover, up to 40% of the elderly in the United States and around 12% of the general population are at risk for zinc insufficiency. Due to current farming practices and the use of hazardous chemicals like Roundup, a portion of the shortage is probably caused by soil depletion.

Aside from issues with the soil, many people simply do not consume enough foods high in zinc, and the mineral is frequently not well absorbed. The fact that zinc levels are not consistently measured and that the testing techniques used are not always reliable makes the issue worse. The easiest method to find out whether you may be lacking in zinc before getting tested is probably to keep an eye out for these typical symptoms:

• Having no appetite

• Depression

• a weakened sense of smell or taste

• frequent infections, colds, or flu

Additional Zinc Deficiency Symptoms That Affect Children include:

Zinc deficiency in children may present in a way that differs from how it usually does in adults. The primary signs of zinc deficiency in children to watch for are, in accordance with Dr. Timothy Wilens, division chief for child and adolescent psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston:

• a lot of dandruff

• Hangnails

• swollen cuticles

• Rashes

Three Common Tests Used to Help Identify Low Zinc

The most typical tests used to detect zinc deficits are listed below, in addition to observing any physical symptoms:

•   Blood test

•   Hair analysis

• Oral taste test

Interestingly, you must hold 10 milliliters of liquid zinc in your mouth for 10 seconds to complete the oral taste test. If your zinc levels are normal, you probably won't be able to bear the strong taste of liquid zinc for very long because it has a very strong flavor. It has a very bitter flavor. In fact, you might want to spit the liquid out of your mouth right now! However, if you are deficient, you probably won't have any trouble keeping the zinc in your tongue because it will taste like water. You won't be impacted by the potency of liquid zinc since you don't have enough zinc in your body, which has partly impaired your sense of taste and smell. Your body is really telling you that it needs this mineral badly by how well it is tolerating the liquid zinc. You should engage your doctor in the process, no matter what approach you decide to use to identify a zinc shortage. You should be cautious when making any dietary or supplemental modifications connected to zinc because of the crucial function zinc plays in your body. I think you'll do better if you follow the advice of a qualified medical expert.

You’re an individual and at KayKon we believe you should have a customized Personalized Wellness Plan created just for you based on your goals and current health conditions. If you’re interested in taking back control of your health and living a life full of energy, vitality, and wellness we urge you to book an initial 15min consultation today!

In Good Health

The Kaykon Team