Zinc- All you need to know
Scattered across the earth’s rich crust, carried on the wind to settle in vast lakes, gentle rivers, and mighty oceans, Zinc is in abundance. It is a vital micronutrient that our bodies and most living things depend on. Zinc is responsible for the activation of over 100 enzymes and is intrinsically woven into the seams of our beings, found in each and every cell.
When Zinc is placed in a smelting furnace, it doesn’t soften and melt like the fellow elements it vaporises, disappearing out of sight. It has been evident since the 1960s that zinc levels are depleting. The zinc levels within our bodies are reducing, disappearing out of sight. A decline in the nutrition of food, age, and different dietary choices can impact the absorption of zinc. So what does this mean for our health, and what can we do about it?
• The Role of Zinc
• So Zinc is Disappearing, What Can I Do?
• What Can We Do Together?
The Role of Zinc
To understand the impact of depleting zinc levels in the population, we are going to look at what we know about zinc supporting our health.
Immune System Reinforcement
Zinc and the immune system go hand in hand. An over-the-counter support for the common cold, zinc is proven to be effective in developing and maintaining immune cells within the body. Some believe it can reduce symptoms or the longevity of the cold.
It cannot be argued that it has been a top contender to support the fight against viruses in recent years. A high-quality zinc supplement may be able to promote and support your immune system, giving your body a fighting chance at maintaining optimal health (1,2).
Brain Power
Zinc is vital for growth and development from conception to the aging. Zinc plays a huge role in cognitive function. It appears to have such a varied and complex role that our understanding is just scratching the surface. However, many studies support the role of zinc in improving brain function at every stage of life (3,4).
Fertility, Pregnancy and Birth
Even before conception, zinc is busy at work, creating the optimal circumstances for life. Known to balance hormones, zinc also contributes to sperm quality and motility, with depilated zinc levels impacting the fertility of males.
In females, zinc is definitely a mineral you want by your side. From elevating period pain to creating optimal eggs for fertilization, passing through the placenta supporting the normal growth of the foetus to enriching breastmilk to provide the optimal nourishment for the baby. It is clear why adding a safe and potent zinc supplement to your diet through conception, pregnancy, and your breastfeeding journey is vital for both you and your baby’s wellbeing (5,6,7).
Bones, Hair and Nails.
A desire for strength is one thing our hair, bones, and nails have in common. To have strong, healthy hair, robust bones that support, and nails that don’t break easily. Delving into the world of zinc shows evidence to suggest healthy levels of zinc can prevent hair loss and promote healthy nail growth. But there is more to this micronutrient. Zinc is needed for normal bone growth, and recent studies show zinc may be able to regenerate bone growth (8,9).
So Zinc is Disappearing, What Can I Do?
We have already mentioned disappearing nutrients from food and age as factors in depleting zinc levels. These are factors that may feel out of our control, so let’s look at ones that we can do something about.
Dietary Choices
Seafood, red meat, and dairy products are nutrient-dense in zinc, which is accessible to the body in a highly bioavailable form. Seeds, legumes, spinach, and mushrooms provide an alternative source of zinc, but it has been shown that plant-based sources are harder for the body to absorb. The choices of foods available today are staggering. However, when you peel back the layers, the nutrient content does not appear to provide the depth of nutrition needed.
With allergies being more prevalent and people advocating a vegan lifestyle, zinc sources and bioavailability to the body may be limited. But there is hope that a balanced and supported diet can remain alongside the difficulties of navigating allergies or standing true to personal lifestyle choices. Supplements can be used to bridge the gap and provide adequate zinc levels. At The Wellness Tailor we have taken stock of individual needs and carefully formulated a potent Zinc Picolinate supplement that is vegan friendly (10).
We chose Zinc Picolinate as our form of supplement as it can be easily and gently absorbed by the body. Our high-strength zinc provides 15mg of elemental zinc per capsule. The elemental form of the mineral is the amount of zinc your body actually uses. We strive to ensure each supplement we formulate is a pure and natural source of nutrients for your body. Our Zinc Picolinate supplement works out as 150% NRV per capsule, designed to support and optimise a healthy lifestyle.
Stress
Once more, the trigger that seems to constantly linger is stress. Stress is everywhere. In a world that has speeded up, throwing more and more on our plates, it isn’t hard to see how we can let stress creep in and take over. With an increase in stress, there are notable impacts on our health moods, exhaustion, anxiety, and depletion in micronutrients, including zinc. But all is not lost, there are ways to alleviate stress, to contain and control it. Simple measures like spending time outdoors, meditating, journaling, laughing, and eating healthy food can reduce the impact stress has on your wellbeing.
At The Wellness Tailor, we have developed a vegan Potentiated Zinc Blend to help you optimise your health and assist you as you beat the detrimental effects of stress. Our carefully formulated supplement is an expert blend of Zinc, Selenium, and copper. These vital elements combined provide maximum support against oxidative stress. They build up the immune system, and with high-strength doses in each capsule replenish depilated trace element levels that may have been affected by the daily stressors in life (11).
What Can We Do Together?
It can feel overwhelming when we hear about elements being lost, the food we buy not meeting our needs, and the impact all this can have on our health and wellbeing. But all is not lost. Overnight, we can’t all challenge and change detrimental farming practices, start a small holding to provide our own nutrient-dense food or halt the aging process. But we can take simple measures to ensure our body is getting what it needs through healthy dietary choices, exercise, rest, stress reduction, and choosing a safe and powerful supplement carefully tailored to meet your body’s needs and enhance your wellbeing. At the Wellness Tailor, we want to join and support you on that journey, one supplement at a time. To add any of our zinc supplements to your daily diet click here or to view our extensive range of supplements visit our online shop here.
References
1. Maares M, Haase H. Zinc and immunity: An essential interrelation. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2016 Dec 1;611:58-65. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2016.03.022. Epub 2016 Mar 26. PMID: 27021581.
2. Tabatabaeizadeh SA. Zinc supplementation and COVID-19 mortality: a meta-analysis. Eur J Med Res. 2022 May 23;27(1):70. doi: 10.1186/s40001-022-00694-z. PMID: 35599332; PMCID: PMC9125011.
3. de Moura JE, de Moura EN, Alves CX, Vale SH, Dantas MM, Silva Ade A, Almeida Md, Leite LD, Brandão-Neto J. Oral zinc supplementation may improve cognitive function in schoolchildren. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2013 Oct;155(1):23-8. doi: 10.1007/s12011-013-9766-9. Epub 2013 Jul 28. PMID: 23892699.
4. Li S, Sun W, Zhang D. Association of Zinc, Iron, Copper, and Selenium Intakes with Low Cognitive Performance in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). J Alzheimers Dis. 2019;72(4):1145-1157. doi: 10.3233/JAD-190263. PMID: 31683474.
5. Fallah A, Mohammad-Hasani A, Colagar AH. Zinc is an Essential Element for Male Fertility: A Review of Zn Roles in Men’s Health, Germination, Sperm Quality, and Fertilization. J Reprod Infertil. 2018 Apr-Jun;19(2):69-81. PMID: 30009140; PMCID: PMC6010824.
6. Nasiadek M, Stragierowicz J, Klimczak M, Kilanowicz A. The Role of Zinc in Selected Female Reproductive System Disorders. Nutrients. 2020 Aug 16;12(8):2464. doi: 10.3390/nu12082464. PMID: 32824334; PMCID: PMC7468694.
7. Garner TB, Hester JM, Carothers A, Diaz FJ. Role of zinc in female reproduction. Biol Reprod. 2021 May 7;104(5):976-994. doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioab023. PMID: 33598687; PMCID: PMC8599883.
8. Park H, Kim CW, Kim SS, Park CW. The therapeutic effect and the changed serum zinc level after zinc supplementation in alopecia areata patients who had a low serum zinc level. Ann Dermatol. 2009 May;21(2):142-6. doi: 10.5021/ad.2009.21.2.142. Epub 2009 May 31. PMID: 20523772; PMCID: PMC2861201.
9. O’Connor JP, Kanjilal D, Teitelbaum M, Lin SS, Cottrell JA. Zinc as a Therapeutic Agent in Bone Regeneration. Materials (Basel). 2020 May 12;13(10):2211. doi: 10.3390/ma13102211. PMID: 32408474; PMCID: PMC7287917.
10. Foster M, Chu A, Petocz P, Samman S. Effect of vegetarian diets on zinc status: a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies in humans. J Sci Food Agric. 2013 Aug 15;93(10):2362-71. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.6179. Epub 2013 May 29. PMID: 23595983.
11. Lopresti AL. The Effects of Psychological and Environmental Stress on Micronutrient Concentrations in the Body: A Review of the Evidence. Adv Nutr. 2020 Jan 1;11(1):103-112. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmz082. PMID: 31504084; PMCID: PMC7442351.
