Zinc is essential for good health. Of all the minerals in our body, iron is the most abundant mineral, closely followed by zinc. Zinc is key in the body, maintaining strong hair, skin, nails, bones and vision. It contributes to the healthy function of the immune system and plays a vital role in the body’s fertility and reproduction systems.
Zinc plays a role in maintaining skin integrity and structure. Zinc is found in cells throughout the body. It helps with natural testosterone production and also helps the immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses. The body needs zinc to grow and develop properly. Zinc also helps wounds heal and is important for senses of taste and smell.
Zinc can be taken in supplement form to help with a wide range of health conditions. Zinc has three main jobs within the body:
- Making new cells and enzymes
- Processing carbohydrate, fat and protein in our food
- Healing wounds.
Our Zinc supplement can be bought here
Nutritional Information: Each tablet provides on average 15mg of Elemental Zinc which is 150% of the Reference Intake.
Ingredients: Bulking Agents: (Dicalcium Phosphate), Microcrystalline Cellulose (Zinc Citrate), Bulking Agent: (Maltodextrin), Anti-caking Agent: (Magnesium Stearate).
As well as being available as a supplement, Zinc can be found in our diets.Good food sources of zinc are:
- Meat – is a particularly good source of zinc, especially red meat, such as lamb, beef and pork. A 100g (3.5oz) serving of raw ground beef contains 4.8mg of zinc, which is 44% of your Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)2
- Shellfish – is a low calorie source of zinc. Oysters contain particularly high amounts, with 6 medium oysters providing 32mg or 291% of your RDA. Smaller shellfish, such as shrimp and mussels contain around 14% of the RDA per 100g3
- Dairy foods – such as cheese and milk. A 100g serving of cheddar cheese contains about 28% of your RDA and a cup of full-fat milk contains around 9%4
- Dark chocolate - contains some zinc too! A 100g (3.5oz) bar of 70 to 85% dark chocolate contains 3.3mg of zinc or 30% of your RDA5
- Nuts – pine nuts, peanuts, cashews and almonds all contain zinc. Cashews contain the highest amount, around 15% of your RDA for a 28g serving6
- Vegetables – contain minimal amounts of zinc. Potatoes, both regular and sweet potatoes, contain approximately 1mg per large potato, which is 9% of your RDA. Meanwhile, other vegetables, such as green beans and kale contain around 3% of RDA per 100g serving7
- Eggs – contain a small amount of zinc, with one large egg containing around 5% of your RDA8
- Wholegrains – such as wheat, quinoa, rice and oats contain some zinc
- Legumes – such as chickpeas, lentils and beans all contain good amounts of zinc. A 100g serving of cooked lentils contains around 12% of your RDA9
- Seeds – hemp, squash, pumpkin and sesame seeds all contain different levels of zinc. Hemp seeds contain the most, around 30g for every three tablespoons, which is between 31% and 43% of your RDA10