ZINC
Product No. P2601
Zinc is an essential mineral that is found in almost every cell. It stimulates the activity of approximately 100 enzymes, which are substances that promote biochemical reactions in your body. Zinc supports a healthy immune system, is needed for wound healing, helps maintain the senses of taste and smell, and is needed for DNA synthesis. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence.
Zinc is found in a wide variety of foods. Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food, but red meat and poultry provide a large amount. Other good food sources include beans, nuts, some types of seafood, whole grains and dairy products.
Zinc deficiency most often occurs when zinc intake is inadequate or poorly absorbed, or when the body’s requirement for zinc increases. Signs of zinc deficiency include growth retardation, hair loss, diarrhoea, impotence, eye and skin problems, and loss of appetite. There is also evidence that weight loss, delayed healing of wounds, taste abnormalities, and mental lethargy can occur. Vegetarians may need as much as 50% more zinc than non-vegetarians because of the lower absorption of zinc from plant foods, so it is very important for vegetarians to include good sources of zinc in their diet.
Zinc helps regulate the production of cells in the body's immune system, which protect against infection and some cancers. It acts as a critical ingredient to immune cell function, assisting in cell division and growth. As a component in thymic hormone, zinc serves to control the maturation of Iymphocytes, a kind of white blood cell that helps fight infection.
In many elderly individuals, immunity decreases, making them more susceptible to disease. Providing adequate zinc, as well as a balanced diet, has been shown to help decrease the likelihood of getting an infectious disease. There is also evidence that zinc deficiency is implicated in deteriorating vision that comes with aging.
Zinc, found in vesicles of the mossy fibre system of the brain's hippocampus, interacts with other chemicals to send messages to the sensory brain centre, enhancing memory and thinking skills. Researchers found that women and men deficient in zinc had a harder time on standard memory tests and lower cognition.
Zinc is also imperative for proper learning, and behavioural performance in children. Research has shown that zinc deprivation causes poor growth and maturation of the cerebellum, and impairs the development of brain cells, which may contribute to learning disorders or emotional and behaviour problems.
Zinc may help in the treatment of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) - although recent studies are not conclusive, there is growing evidence that a deficiency of progesterone underlies PMS, and trace amounts of zinc regulate the secretion of hormones, including progesterone.
The reduction in zinc in the luteal phase of menstruation, the 13 days preceding menstruation, could lead to a decrease in secretions of progesterone and endorphines - the natural painkillers our bodies produce.
Because zinc is absolutely vital for growth and development, and is used to generate cells, it is essential that pregnant woman obtain the required amounts of zinc, which can be as much as 19 milligrams per day. Scientific evidence shows that maternal zinc deficiency during pregnancy has varied adverse effects on foetal development, including a two-fold increase in risk of low birth weight, and more than a trebled risk of pre-term delivery. Zinc has shown favourable results with regards to reducing prematurity, prenatal death and other complications.
Zinc is essential for healthy skin. As a drying agent and astringent, zinc oxide has been used for generations to soothe diaper rash and relieve itching. And zinc is a natural sunscreen, helping to protect lips and skin from becoming chapped by the sun's harmful rays.
Zinc sulphate is effective in treating some cases of acne, and in a water-based solution, it helps remedy cold sores, and improves the healing of wounds, like surgical incisions, burns and other skin irritations.
Used as an anti-inflammatory, zinc soothes skin and skin tissue. Rashes, blisters, burns and eczema are all improved when treated with zinc, and as it stimulates the transport of Vitamin A from the liver to the skin, it helps to protect body tissue from damage.
Zinc activates areas of the brain that receive and process information from taste and smell sensors. Levels of zinc in plasma, and zinc's effect on other nutrients, like copper and manganese, were found to influence appetite and taste preference.
Insufficient zinc has been linked to anorexia, which responds well to zinc replacement treatment. Zinc abnormalities also often exist in mood disorder patients. Zinc sulphate, taken as a supplement, appears effective in reducing fatigue, mood swings and changes in appetite.
As new studies reveal the dramatic role minerals play in maintaining health and fighting disease, medical science is recognizing zinc as a natural treatment that can be safe, inexpensive and beneficial for the whole body.
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