Sunday Supplement

Welcome to SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT!
today, I want to briefly talk about Zinc.
Zinc is an essential element to human health, and it's vital for many biological functions and plays a crucial role in the human body. On average, you have about 2-3g of zinc in your body, and can be found in organs, tissue, bones, fluid and cells. However, the bones and muscles contain most of that zinc.
Zinc is known for its importance in growth and development, and that's why it is vital for pregnant women, toddlers and young children. From articles and studies that I have read, it seems to be another mineral that people tend to be deficient in.
What is the 'thing' that helps us fight against infections and illnesses? out immune system! and zinc helps to strengthen ouR immune system. Increasing your zinc intake has been proven to help fight against pneumonia, diarrhea, reduce the duration of a cold and fight back against other infections. It is recommended to up your intake of zinc in the winter (where colds are obviously more common).
Zinc can help a number of other aspects of our health, including - skin, hair, nails, our vision, our taste and smell and fertility.
What foods contain zinc?
- Red meat
- Eggs
- Fish
- Nuts
- Poultry
- Green vegetables
- Oysters
Because the above foods (minus oysters) are very common and easy to add into your everyday diet, it is best to go to food instead of supplements for your daily zinc intake. However, there will be some people that can't/won't eat those foods above and will require a supplement, which is the right thing to do.
I have found a few different stats on how much zinc we need per day, and have found on average:
Infants - 5mg
Children - 10mg
Women - 12mg
Pregnant women - 15mg
Lactating women - 16mg
Men - 15mg
If you are deficient in zinc, you may have one or more of the following:
- A weaker immune system (could become ill more often)
- Hair loss
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Reduced fertility
- Poor sleep
- Loss of taste or smell
The above symptoms do depend on the severity of your deficiency.
I hope you have found this post helpful! Check out my website and sign up for FREE to access more tips and advice - www.leegregoryfitness.com