Supplementing with Zinc
Zinc is essential in many biological functions, from cardiovascular health to improving body composition. Several studies have highlighted its immune-boosting qualities.
However, it offers much more than that. Research shows that Zinc is so essential to our bodies that even a tiny deficiency can harm our health. Zinc deficiency is ranked among the top 5 risk factors that could lead to diseases! Whether you are a regular person or an elite athlete, you cannot function optimally without adequate levels of Zinc. As a personal trainer in Marylebone and St John’s Wood, I provide individualized nutrition programs to my clients. I always include Zinc in the baseline supplement list. These are my six main benefits -
1. Who's at the most significant risk from zinc deficiency
As Zinc is mainly found in some seafood (oysters have the highest levels of all foods) and animal-based proteins such as red meat, vegetarians find it hard to attain recommended mineral levels and are usually Zinc deficient. Females who take birth control pills are also at greater risk of low zinc levels and would benefit from using supplementation to make sure they are receiving everything they need. As we age, the need to counteract inflammation, further support the immune system, and maintain healthy cell function becomes vital. This is why older people also face a greater risk of zinc deficiencies.
2. The fight against cancer and immune-boosting qualities
Zinc is found in every body tissue and is crucial in over 300 enzymes. It has strong antioxidant properties with cancer-fighting benefits. Leading researchers have emphasized that consuming adequate Zinc could help cure several of the most severe health problems, especially cancer of most kinds and poor immune function. Its immune-boosting qualities come from its ability to boost T-cells, which are responsible for identifying and fighting off infections.
3. Improve your cardiovascular health and quality of life
Consuming Zinc lowers cholesterol levels and heart disease risk, ensuring your cardiovascular system functions appropriately. Zinc helps to enhance your cardiovascular health by improving the circulation. A zinc deficiency could increase the risks and implications of a high-fat diet and heart disease.
4. Lower your body fat and risk of diabetes
To lose body fat optimally, eating less and exercising more may sound like a simple idea. However, this approach is entirely wrong as it harms the body. It causes the vital fat-burning hormones, such as leptin and ghrelin, essential for fat loss and long-term success, to stop functioning. Among other things, proper hormone function is vital to improving body composition, and this is where Zinc is helpful, especially when it comes to insulin release (one of the most potent hormones in the body). It helps out by binding to insulin, i.e., the level stored in the pancreas and released when glucose enters the bloodstream is adequately maintained. It also improves cell health and insulin sensitivity. On the flip side, if you have a zinc deficiency, there will be a decrease in insulin secretion from the pancreas and a reduction of insulin sensitivity, which can lead to diabetes.
5. Zinc's magic antioxidants
We all need antioxidants to get rid of free radicals. Zinc has high levels of such antioxidants, which assist in removing the toxins that cause damage to our bodies and help in reducing the inflammation that is caused by these free radicals.
6. Improves brain function
Zinc is essential for proper brain function and health. It improves brain function by stimulating melatonin, in turn regulating dopamine. It also positively affects the fatty acids within the brain membrane, which is vital for transporting nutrients to it.
The symptoms of a zinc deficiency affect your taste, which leads to cravings for saltier and sweeter foods. Cravings for fattening foods would inevitably hurt our body composition. Other symptoms you may experience from lacking Zinc include fatigue, low energy, low immunity, poor memory, infertility, and nerve dysfunction. Supplementing with Zinc makes sense as it is essential to our well-being. This is why I, too, supplement with it and recommend it to my clients. I like to use Solgar Zinc Citrate because of the citrate included in this supplement, which helps promote optimal zinc absorption.
– Tom Winterbottom is a personal trainer in Marylebone & St John’s Wood who offers online 1-2-1 coaching programs
