The Many Benefits of Zinc Supplements
Getting enough zinc can wonders in numerous health conditions.
Zinc activates white blood cells to fight infections. It helps
protect the body against viruses. Men need zinc for sperm
production and to keep the prostate gland healthy. Zinc helps
the pancreas make insulin and keep normal sugar levels.
Zinc is essential for good memory. Zinc supplements even help
teenagers get better grades in school.
How important is zinc? Zinc is present in every cell in the
body. It is a component of over 200 enzymes. There are high
amounts of zinc in red blood cells, white blood cells, your
bones, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and retina. Men have high
concentrations of zinc in the prostate gland. Every cell in the
body needs zinc to divide and replace itself when the body makes
new tissues.
Here are two lists. One is a list of conditions that can occur
when the body does not get enough zinc. The second is a list of
conditions that improve due to the benefits of zinc supplements.
Not getting enough zinc can chronic fatigue, dermatitis,
diarrhea, hypothyroidism, female infertility, impaired platelet
aggregation, insulin resistance, and loss of taste or smell. It
can cause reduced resistance to infection, night blindness, poor
appetite, poor memory, attention deficit disorder, and reduced
learning ability, and it can cause slower growth in children,
slow healing of wounds, and infertility in men. Add to this list
Acrodermatitis enteropathica, Alopecia, atrophy of the testes,
bone loss and osteoporosis, decreased sperm count, decreased
sperm motility, delayed puberty, nerve cell problems in
Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome, and ringing in the ears.
Among the benefits of zinc supplement is improved immune
function. Other benefits of zinc supplements are adding calcium
to bones and teeth, lowering blood sugars, helping interferon
work in treating hepatitis C, clearing up bacterial prostatitis,
and recharging the male sex drive. They can help recovery in
brain injury, improve brain function, restore night vision,
increase sperm count, and stimulate the libido.
Extra zinc can help bring out weight gain in anorexia nervosa
and help children with sickle cell disease. It can even cure bad
breath.
Who needs the benefits of zinc supplements? You might be
surprised. The United Nations University found that 20% of
people worldwide are deficient in zinc. Zinc in supplements is
needed to prevent childhood infections and diarrhea and to
support normal growth and development.
Think you're safe if you eat a good diet? Think again. Scores of
modern medications deplete the body's stores of zinc. Any women
who takes the Pill or hormone replacement therapy or medication
to prevent osteoporosis is at risk for nutritional deficiency
and may need zinc supplements. Heart patients, diabetics, and
epileptics also need zinc supplements.
Even some supplements increase the body's need for zinc. Calcium
supplements, magnesium supplements, and whey all can interfere
with the absorption of zinc. Never take zinc at the same time
you take these supplements, and always be sure you are getting
enough of the benefits of zinc supplements if you take any
supplements for bone health or muscle health.
What about side effects of zinc supplements?
If you take too much zinc, your body will have difficulty
absorbing copper. It's OK to take up to 20 mg every 2 hours for
as long as 2 weeks to fight a cold, but for everyday nutrition
limit your intake to 15 mg a day. Zinc supplements can cause
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but only if you take about a
gram--over 60 times the recommended dose.
How can you tell if you are taking too much zinc?
Here is a simple test. Overdoses of zinc numb your taste buds to
bitter flavor and metallic aftertastes. Zinc has a metallic
taste. If you can't taste zinc, you don't need to take it! The
benefits of zinc supplements are yours with just a small,
regular dose.