It seems that nearly no one alive today is not suffering from some type of vitamin or mineral deficiency. With depleted soils, chemical applications, excessive processing, and food traveling great distances to get to the end consumer (reducing freshness), we just don’t have access to the level of nutrients we did even a few decades ago. Combine this with poor digestive health and poor nutrient assimilation, and you have an end game that results in one or more severe nutrient deficiencies.
One very important mineral that often gets overshadowed is zinc, and the lack of attention to this critical nutrient has left people with severe deficiencies. This causes all kinds of symptoms and health concerns, and requires specific knowledge to dig yourself out.
Signs of Zinc Deficiency
Zinc is very important in various parts of the body, including our bones, connective tissues, brain, eyes, hair, skin, prostate, pancreas, liver, and kidneys. It has a key role in DNA repair, enzyme activity, immune response, collagen production, wound healing, and sperm maturation.
Sign of zinc deficiency include:
- Hair loss
- Weight loss
- Delayed wound healing
- Chronic infection
- Rough skin or rashes
- Depression
- Mental fatigue
- Acne
- Loss of appetite
- Stunted growth
- Brittle thin nails, or nails with white spots
- Poor sense of taste or smell
- Poor night vision
- Infertility
- Prostate issues (low sperm count)
- High cholesterol
If you suffer from one or more of the symptoms, you may want to consider the following foods to help remedy the deficiency:
- Oysters
- Beef
- Eggs
- Chicken
- Fish
- Legumes (soaked to remove phytic acids)
- Nuts (soaked): almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, and brazil nuts
- Seeds (soaked): pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower
Since zinc can be difficult to absorb, supplementation or eating foods with fat soluble vitamins A and D should considered since they have been shown to improve zinc absorption.
Once your zinc levels start to improve, you may notice the following benefits:
- Proper growth and development (especially during pregnancy)
- Healthier hair, skin,and eyes
- Improved immunity and wound healing
- Improved mood and mental state
- Improved digestion
- Treatment and protection against diabetes and cancer
- Reduced inflammation and prevalence of chronic disease
All great reasons to restore healthy levels of zinc!
For more on the healing benefits of zinc, and suggested dosages, read Healing Benefits of Zinc.
Sources for this article include:
http://healingthebody.ca/healing-benefits-of-zinc/
http://knowledgeofhealth.com/modern-day-zinc-deficiency-epidemic/
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02869/zinc.html
About the Author:
Derek Henry took a deadly health challenge that conventional medicine couldn’t solve and self-directed a one-in-a-million health journey that found him happier and healthier than he had been in his entire life. As a result of this rewarding journey, he created Healing the Body and became a well revered holistic health coach who now spends his time writing, coaching, and educating thousands of people each month who want to enjoy similar results.
His Wellness Transformation E-Guide and THRIVE Online Health Program are two essential resources for anyone who wishes to have the intelligence and answers to become truly well.
You can find his experience derived and heavily researched articles at his website Healing the Body and his one of a kind holistic health program, THRIVE, here.
