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I find it ironic that I had a zinc deficiency for years without realizing it… especially because I’d written a senior biology paper on the functions of zinc in human biology.
Like magnesium, I knew the many ways that zinc functions within the body, but I assumed I was obtaining enough from food. Many processed foods are fortified with zinc, and it also occurs naturally in foods such as oysters, beef, chicken, pumpkin seeds, lamb, spinach and yogurt.
The Role of Zinc In the Body
Zinc is a master-mineral of sorts (along with magnesium), and is needed for many reactions within the body. Unlike fat soluble vitamins, zinc is not stored for long periods of time in the body, so we need a constant supply of quality zinc from diet.
We don’t need large amounts of zinc each day, but it is absolutely vital that we get enough. Zinc is technically an essential trace element that is important for:
- Proper immune function
- Skin health and hair growth
- Metabolism of food and absorption of other nutrients
- Hormone balance
- Gut health
- Mental clarity
- Wound healing
- DNA synthesis
- For eye health
- Proper cell division (one of the reasons it is vital during pregnancy)
- Even adequate taste and smell
