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Zinc is an essential trace mineral that the human body uses for over 300 important functions
such as making DNA.
You may have heard of the zinc metal being used in batteries and electrical equipment.
Zinc is also part of an alloy used to make American Pennies.
And it's found In all kinds of plastics, inks and even the body of your car.
Many people do not realize however, that the human body needs trace amounts of zinc to
stay strong and healthy, because it's an essential nutrient like Vitamin C or Calcium for example.
You need zinc to help build hormones and send signals through your nervous system.
You also need it to keep your immune system strong to protect your body from harmful viruses,
bacteria and pathogens in the outside world.
Unfortunately it's now estimated that over 2 billion people worldwide are deficient in
zinc due to the consumption of refined foods which depletes it.
You may be wondering if you are one of these people.
So in today's video we will take a look at the top 10 common signs that you may be deficient
in zinc, and how to fix this naturally.
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This video is for educational purposes only, so do speak to your doctor if you have any
medical concerns.
Top 10 Signs of A Zinc Deficiency
1.
Loss Of Taste/Smell One of the most common signs that you do not
have enough zinc is a loss in your sense of taste or smell.
Most commonly after you have been infected with a viral infection or a pathogen, the
body uses up its zinc stores to help fight off the infection.
By activating white blood cells.
Unfortunately we also need zinc to activate enzymes that allow our brains to pick up different
tastes and smells.
So without enough zinc, food starts tasting like cardboard and smells may lose their potency.
2.
Hair Loss The second s ign to look for is hair loss.
Zinc is intimately involved with growing healthy, strong hair strands because of how it helps
to build DNA, proteins and hormones in the body.
If you don't absorb enough zinc into your body, the hair usually starts to thin out
over time.
Zinc also helps your scalp to make sebum, a natural oil that moisturises your scalp
and prevents dandruff.
Without zinc and sebum, your hair is left fragile and may break easily.
3.
White Spots On Nails The third symptom is white spots on the nails.
Take a look at your nails, if you notice that you have white spots then this is a positive
indication that you have been deficient in zinc.
Eating refined carbohydrates and sugary foods deplete zinc from your body and block you
from absorbing it properly.
As the nails take between 3-6 months to grow, you can usually identify when in your life
you ate too many refined foods, which depleted your zinc
And caused a weak spot on your nail that appears as a white spot, or sometimes white horizontal
line.
4.
Wounds That Won't Heal The next sign of a zinc deficiency is wounds
that won't heal properly.
Because zinc is required to repair cell membranes and grow new healthy skin cells, if you don't
have enough your body will struggle to heal cuts and wounds.
Cuts, wounds, burns and scrapes may take longer to heal if you don't increases your zinc intake.
Later in the video, we'll talk about how to replenish your zinc if you have any of these
signs and symptoms.
5.
Low Testosterone Next we have low testosterone levels.
If you are a man who suffers with low testosterone this may be due to a zinc deficiency.
As mentioned earlier, zinc is involved with building hormones and proteins in the body
like testosterone.
So if you are lacking, you may suffer with low libido, muscle weakness or shrinking gonads.
In women, low testosterone is linked with low mood, weight gain and irregular periods.
6.
Regular Colds If you suffer with colds and infections on
a regular basis this may be another sign of zinc deficiency .
Without enough zinc floating around your body, you are more likely to catch a cold or infection.
Zinc is needed to send certain signals to your immune system to tell the white blood
cells to fight pathogens like viruses, bacteria and fungi.
It also triggers inflammation when needed to help prevent these illnesses from spreading
through your body.
7.
Depression Number 7 is Depression
When you don't have enough zinc in your body, things don't feel quite right.
Studies have linked zinc deficiency to depression, irritability and emotional instability in
adults.
Your brain needs lots of zinc to build dopamine and other hormones that make you feel good,
and help you focus and concentrate.
It's also used by hundreds of different enzyme processes which helps the synapses in your
brain to communicate,
So it makes sense, that if you're low in zinc you will feel unbalanced emotionally and may
have bouts of depression.
8.
Vision Problems Sign number 8 is vision problems with the
eyes
There is also a high concentration of zinc in the human eyes, because it's involved with
the formation of visual pigments in your retina.
For this reason, if your low in zinc you may struggle to see properly, especially at night
time when there are low levels of light.
Zinc also helps to transport Vitamin A from the liver to the eyes which is essential to
prevent cataracts, dry eyes and macular degeneration.
So if your struggling with any of these visual problems, consider adding more zinc into your
diet from healthy food sources like shellfish, red meat, sprouted legumes, eggs, nuts and
seeds.
- More on this later.
9.
Ulcers The next sign is ulcers.
If you frequently suffer with stomach ulcers or mouth ulcers then you may need more zinc
in your diet.
Zinc is needed to repair the damaged tissue and the delicate skin that lives on the inside
of your body such as the mouth and stomach.
Natural health doctors commonly prescribe remedies which contain bioavailable zinc to
help heal these recurring sores.
10.
Leaky Gut And finally n umber 10 is leaky gut syndrome.
If you have any autoimmune disease or skin problems like eczema or psoriasis then you
likely have a leaky gut.
These problems are triggered when your intestinal wall becomes damaged, and toxins leach into
your blood.
This uses up your zinc stores, because your body is trying to heal the damage in your
gut.
Why Am I Deficient In Zinc?
So the question is, what causes a zinc deficiency in the first place.
The number 1 cause of zinc loss in the body is eating too many grains.
You may not realise it, but every time you eat a slice of bread, a bowl of cereal or
anything that contains flour you may be depleting your zinc stores.
Grains contains natural phytates that can block your body's ability to absorb certain
minerals like zinc.
Not only that, but gluten in these foods cause inflammation in your intestines which can
also deplete zinc.
Another probable cause of zinc deficiency is simply not eating enough healthy foods
that contain zinc in your diet.
How Do I Boost My Zinc Levels?
Now that I know all this, how can I raise my zinc levels, I hear you ask.
Rather than looking into expensive supplements and products, start getting more zinc into
your diet naturally by eating seafood.
Shellfish in particular like oysters, mussels, shrimp and crab meat are natures best of source
of the type of zinc that your body absorbs easily.
Seaweed, sea kelp and sea vegetables are likewise high in concentrated zinc.
This is because they grow in a mineral rich seabed and are able to extract the trace minerals
from the soil into the plants, making them a fantastic bioavailable source of zinc.
You may not believe it, but red meat is also loaded with zinc.
In fact, a 3.5 ounce serving of ground beef contains around 4.8mg of zinc, which is 44%
of the recommended daily value.
You can also get it in high amounts from lamb, pork and organ meats.
Just make sure to choose pasture raised, grass fed and grass finished meats.
These are much higher quality and contain extra nutrients with no artificial growth
hormones.
If you do decide to go with a supplement the most easily absorbable variety is called Zinc
Biglycinate chelate.
Just make sure you don't take any more than 50mg from a supplement as it can deplete your
copper if you take too much.
Final Notes
Some final notes about zinc deficiencies.
Zinc deficiencies can be difficult to diagnose by your doctor.
Because zinc is distributed throughout your entire body,
a blood test may not always show if you are deficient in Zinc or not.
So stay vigilant of these signs and pay attention to your body.
It always gives you signs and symptoms when something isn't right.
Remember, the body doesn’t have a strong storage mechanism for zinc, which means that
we have to keep replenishing it every day by eating healthy foods.
Try to not to eat too many grains however unless their sprouted, because the phytates
will also block your ability to absorb zinc.
Whenever there is illness or injury, your body will use more zinc to repair itself.
So eating a healthy nutrient rich diet is absolutely essential to restore your cells
and maintain a healthy overall body.
Does your body give you any other signs and symptoms?
Click on this playlist to learn more about how your body works.
I wish you great health, wealth and happiness.