Zinc
Zinc has an important role in growth and immune system function.
What Is Zinc?
The trace mineral zinc is found throughout the body in all organs, tissues, and fluids, and it has key functions in cellular activity.
Zinc is the tenth most common element in the body, and so is vital to the functioning of more than 300 hormones and enzymes.
One of the most important of these enzymes is copper or zinc superoxide dismutase, an antioxidant enzyme associated with longevity and protection against oxidative stress.
The Benefits of Zinc
- Zinc is crucial for strong bones, healthy skin, and optimal wound healing.
- Critical for supporting immune health and speeding recovery from infections.
- First line of defense in reducing severity and duration of common cold symptoms.
Evidence suggests that zinc protects against DNA mutations and may play a role in averting cancers of the tongue and esophagus.
Zinc Deficiency
Zinc deficiency is associated with higher infant mortality, impaired growth in children, delays in sexual maturation, infertility, and anemia.
