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When most people think about zinc, they think of cold remedies or as an ingredient in sunscreen. But did you know that this trace mineral plays an important role in your overall health?
Since you cannot produce zinc, it is important to eat foods that contain the nutrient, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Foods that contain zinc include beef, seafood, eggs, beans, and pumpkin seeds. Vegetarians and vegans can take supplements if needed.
The recommended dietary allowance for zinc is 8 mg daily for women and 11 mg daily for men. Adding enough zinc to your diet comes with some amazing health benefits. Here are five ways that adding zinc to your diet is good for you.
Helps Boost Your Immune System
Zinc helps you to have a strong immune system, suggested Healthline. That’s because zinc is an antioxidant and can reduce oxidative stress on a cellular level which can cause chronic diseases. Taking 80-92 milligrams per day of zinc could reduce the length of a common cold by up to 33 percent. That’s why many cold remedies contain zinc.
Contributes to Wound Healing
Zinc is also used as a treatment for burns, ulcers, and skin injuries because the trace mineral plays an important role in the production of collagen synthesis, immune function, as well as an anti-inflammatory response. All are necessary for your body to heal. In a 12-week study, 60 participants with diabetic foot ulcers were treated with 50 mg of zinc every day or a placebo. The people who used the zinc experienced reductions in the ulcer size.
Could Benefit Your Skin
Zinc has been used orally and topically to help heal skin wounds and ulcers, suggested WebMD. The same anti-inflammatory properties of zinc could benefit skin conditions like acne, eczema, rosacea, and warts. You can also use topical zinc ointment to treat scars, and the mineral could also help prevent skin cancer when used as a sunscreen.
Helps Delay Age-Related Macular Degeneration
This trusty mineral could help prevent cell damage in the retina and could delay the progression of age-related macular degeneration and the loss of vision, according to the Mayo Clinic website. More research is needed to see how zinc can be used for new treatments.
May Reduce the Risk of Age-Related Diseases
Zinc could help reduce the risk of some age-related diseases like pneumonia and other infections, suggested Healthline. That’s because zinc helps to relieve oxidative stress and improves your immune system by boosting the T-Cells that help protect your body from infections. In fact, older adults who take zinc supplements improved the response of the influenza vaccine and have a reduced risk of pneumonia.
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