What Is Zinc? Do You Get Enough?

Zinc is an essential trace mineral that we can't do without. Our body can't store zinc, so we must get a steady supply from our diet.

Zinc deficiency is a worldwide problem. It leads to numerous negative consequences for your health. For instance, having zinc deficiency showed that it affects immunological development in the newborn in ways that compromise immune function throughout the lifespan.

Zinc Is An Essential Mineral

Zinc is an essential mineral that is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism. (source 🗗)

A daily intake of zinc is required to maintain a steady level because the body has no specialized zinc storage system. (source 🗗)

Zinc possesses many health benefits. You can find them in Zinc, Zn: 11 Research-Backed Benefits .

Zinc Deficiency

Zinc deficiency is a large malnutrition problem worldwide. It is highest in areas where there are high cereal and low animal food consumption. (source 🗗)

There are severe negative consequences of zinc deficiency on human health in especially developing countries. (source 🗗)

The inadequate levels of zinc in the diet comes from limited access to zinc-rich foods, animal products, oysters and shellfish, and the abundance of zinc inhibitors, common in plant-based diets. (source 🗗)

Zinc In Food

Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food. You can also find it in other types of seafood.

But red meat and poultry provide the majority of zinc in many diets.

Other food sources containing zinc are beans, nuts, whole grains, and dairy products. (source 🗗)

But due to zinc inhibitors, there are harder to get adequate zinc levels from the zinc containing plants. (source 🗗)

If you are interested in a list of ranked foods where you can find this nutrient. Go to our nutrition tool and check out zinc.