Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a nutritious, balanced diet is key to ensuring your body is getting the nutrients it needs to function at optimal health.
Zinc is an essential mineral that our body needs to support a multitude of important functions. As our body cannot produce zinc itself, we need to ensure that we’re getting enough zinc in our diet or by taking zinc supplements.
Below, discover everything you need to know about zinc, its range of health benefits and how often you should take zinc supplements.
What is Zinc?
Zinc is a trace mineral that supports our overall health. It is an essential nutrient that our body cannot produce itself, yet it is important to ensure we are getting enough zinc as it contributes to several different functions in our body.
We can get the required amount of zinc through our diet by consuming plenty of foods rich in zinc or by taking zinc supplements.
Why Do We Need Zinc?
Zinc provides us with many health benefits, from the maintenance of skin health to immune support. Read more about the benefits of zinc below.
1. Supports Skin Health
Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. It can help your wounds to heal, as zinc supports collagen synthesis and helps to reduce inflammation.
2. Supports Healthy Eyes
Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal vision and can support your eyesight.
3. Supports Immune System
This essential trace mineral can help to maintain the normal function of our immune system.
4. Aids Metabolism
Zinc helps our body to process vital nutrients from the food we eat, including carbohydrates, proteins and fat, turning it into energy and supporting the metabolic function.
5. Supports Growth & Development
Zinc helps our body to make new cells, playing an important role in our growth and development through childhood and adolescence.
Foods Rich in Zinc
To reap the benefits of zinc, you need to include a variety of different zinc-rich foods in your diet, from red meat to legumes. We’ve put together a list of foods that are rich in zinc for you to incorporate into your diet:
- Oysters (and other shellfish)
- Meat, including red meat and poultry
- Dairy, including milk, yoghurt and cheese
- Lentils, chickpeas and beans
- Nuts
- Whole grains, including bread
- Spinach
It may be harder to ensure that you’re getting enough zinc when following a vegetarian or vegan diet, as most zinc-rich foods derive from animal products.
Regardless of whether you are a meat eater or plant-based, consider introducing zinc supplements to your routine to ensure that your body receives sufficient amounts of this essential mineral.
Zinc Supplements at Garden of Life
Support your overall health and wellbeing with our wide range of zinc supplements.
Vitamin Code Raw Zinc
Boost your skin, vision, and immune health with our organic Vitamin Code Raw Zinc capsules. Made from a blend of 23 whole food fruits and vegetables, these vegan zinc supplements will help to support healthy skin and eyes, while the added vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system.
