The ingestion of foods containing zinc is the best way for the element to spread to your veins and be absorbed by various cells throughout your body.
These cells use the nutrition to improve and strengthen the function of a lot of your daily processes.
What makes zinc so special?
There’s a lot of benefits provided by zinc that make this mineral special.
It helps your body’s immune system to defend you from any foreign biological infections, which allows almost every other process in your body to be performed easier.
Zinc is also spread to other parts of your body to play a key role in cell division, and growth, along with the healing process of wounds.
They even contribute to the breaking down of your carbohydrates!
The benefits of this mineral don't stop there folks; zinc is necessary for the process of smell and taste.
In the developmental stages of a person’s life, zinc plays a vital role in that person developing those senses, as well as the development of a person as a whole!
Zinc Deficiency
Unfortunately, some people are unable to ingest a substantial amount of the wonderful zinc, and they suffer because of it.
These people have what is called a zinc deficiency.
Having a zinc deficiency means that a body is deprived of the benefits listed previously, as well a moderate amount of negative side effects.
This includes, in a mild case, growth difficulties, lack of appetite, and a weakened immune system.
The perpetuation of this deficiency leads to more severe consequences such as malfunction of taste, hair loss, weight loss, diarrhea, and delayed sexual maturation, just to name a few.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 17.3 % of global population is at the risk of inadequate zinc intake.(1)
These numbers may seem large, but the majority of cases of zinc deficiency are treatable by simply adding more zinc to an individual's diet.
12 Health Benefits of Zinc for Good Health
1. Zinc benefits our Skin in a number of ways
Not only a vanquisher of skin diseases, zinc also provides various benefits to the skin.
With an adequate amount of zinc in your body, the mineral will function as a protector of the skin from UV Radiation, reducing the penetration levels and lowering the risk of skin cancer.(1)(2)
It also, as was mentioned above, helps in the mending wounds inflicted upon your skin.
Zinc acts as a fantastic protector to the epidermis, though it doesn’t only protect… Zinc also benefits growth!
2. Zinc benefits for hair growth and prevents hair fall
Hair loss is a problem that plagues many people today.
Causes can include heredity, hormonal irregularities, and certain treatments or medications.(3)
Zinc can, at the very least, mitigate this problem.
Application of zinc to the scalp and hair follicles allow them to moderately recover from the damage they may have been subject to.
The protein and nucleic acid synthesis that zinc is involved in turns it into an inhibitor of hair follicle regression and accelerates hair follicle recovery.(4)
3. Zinc promotes and maintains better oral health
Brushing your teeth and flossing are two fundamental and effective ways to increase the health of your teeth.
However, should you neglect these fundamental processes, it will result in the buildup of plaque in between and around your teeth.
That’s where Zinc comes in. Zinc is prevalent in antibacterial agents such as mouthwash and certain toothpaste.
There is also data that shows a decline of plaque in a person’s mouth as zinc density in saliva increased.(5)
This data was the prequel to a study done to observe the effects zinc had on oral hygiene.(6)
4. Zinc promotes libido
Libido is very important for people, especially these days when the media and television thrive on enhancing people's libido.
Zinc has been shown to enhance libido, so adding it to your diet might mean that you get more benefits than fresh breath and healthy skin – you could surprise your partner in the bedroom next time you're together.(7)(8)
Zinc improves libido, particularly in men, but in women as well, by enhancing blood flow to the genital region.
This helps men overcome erectile dysfunction, and increases stimulation and pleasure in the areas for both genders.
5. Zinc helps and prevents osteoporosis
Zinc is a nutrient that’s good at fighting osteoarthritis, which is a painful degenerative condition that tends to show up as people grow old.
Osteoporosis is a bone disease which makes bones weaker causing discomfort and pain.
Zinc is particularly effective at improving the health of bones and joints. Because of this, regular zinc supplementation is one of the best ways to prevent osteoporosis.(9)
It's particularly useful for improving bone density, which is incredibly useful for preventing this disease.
Zinc will better protect you from developing osteoarthritis, but it can also help ease the condition if you've already developed it.
6. Zinc reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular disease is a huge problem in globally, and it's only becoming more popular.
Little known to many people is that zinc is actually a good fighter against cardiovascular diseases.(10)
Zinc fights the battle against cardiac disease up close and personal - it helps strengthen the cell walls of our arteries, and it also helps regulate your heartbeat to ensure your body sends and receives enough oxygen through its bloodstream.
7. Zinc promotes brain health in aging individuals
As you age your brain starts to decline.
This is a fact, and most people are aware of it, but what many aren't aware of is that you can slow the decline of your brain by getting a healthy diet.
Zinc is a very important nutrient for maintaining the health of your brain. Wilson’s disease, schizophrenia and Pick’s disease have been associated with zinc deficiency.(11)
Furthermore, zinc deficiency makes it more difficult for the brain to produce acetylcholine, a rime neurotransmitter responsible for your ability to think and use logic.(12)
8. Zinc promotes liver health
It's important to maintain a healthy level of zinc in your body to keep your liver running properly.
An unhealthy liver can let itself be known in many ways - skin lesions, organ failure, pigmentation changes, increased urination.
All of the theses things are also symptoms of zinc deficiency.
Zinc supplementation reverses the effects of certain liver diseases that can be related to the deficiency in zinc when these issues could otherwise be very difficult to treat.(13)
9. Zinc is good for healthy fetal development
The developing fetus needs a constant supply of nutrients to grow into a healthy fetus.
Since zinc is so important for the growth and maintenance of healthy bones, joints, and your nerves and bloodstream, it should be obvious that zinc is crucial for fetal development.(14)
If you don't get enough zinc during your pregnancy, your fetus could have problems.
A fetus that doesn't get enough zinc could have weak bones, or damaged organs since their bloodstream won't be able to effectively transport blood and oxygen to their organs.
10. Zinc is antidepressant
Several minerals display significant antidepressant and mood regulating properties.
Zinc is one of these antidepressants.(15)
It's often coupled with magnesium and calcium at the pharmacy because the three minerals work together to help boost your neurotransmitters to healthy levels.
If you don't get enough of these minerals, conversely, depression is often part of the side effects of deficiency.
Clinical studies have been done that involved supplementing zinc for people with severe depression. The results were that symptoms were reduced in many cases.
11. Zinc helps in hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition when the thyroid gland is not capable of producing enough hormone, which can lead to a whole bunch of unpleasant problems.
Hypothyroidism can leave to an irregular heartbeat, sweating, sudden weight gain, and more.(16)
Zinc can help reduce the chances of developing hypothyroidism because the condition is often caused by a deficiency of zinc in the first place.(17)
It works best when coupled with other nutrients such as copper and magnesium.
12. Zinc reduces the risk of lungs cancer
Zinc is a good way to fight lung cancer, at least as indicated in several studies that were done to evaluate the effect of various nutrients on the human body.
People with a regular, high intake of zinc were shown to have up to 42% less likelihood of developing lung cancer compared to people who were deficient in zinc.(18)
While those don't prove a definite causal link between zinc consumption and cancer, it’s more likely to suggest that zinc deficiency makes a person more susceptible to getting lung cancer.
Caution to use when taking Zinc
Zinc is a great essential mineral, however, like every great thing, caution should be paid when considering a supplemental regime with zinc.
You should not take zinc if you have or are susceptible to cancer, copper deficiency, kidney disease, lung disease, nervous system disorders.
You be careful taking zinc supplements if you’re supplementing your diet with citric acid, other cancer preventers, ACE inhibitors, folic acid and fiber supplements, and should generally check with your doctor before starting any new supplement regime.
Zinc supplements and alcohol should be taken with caution.
Conclusion
Zinc’s a great mineral that doesn’t get the respect it deserves.
Deficiency of zinc can have a lot of nasty side effects and it's important to avoid that from happening before you have to deal with all the unpleasantness.