If You Have Sex, Drink, Smoke, or are Stressed You Need to Watch Your Zinc Levels

Well….we are talking about zinc again which really shouldn’t be a big surprise.

It is a crucial micronutrient, plays an active role in over 200 enzyme reactions in the body and a recent study has concluded that over half the population eats less than half the RDA of this super-mineral.

When you take into account that the RDA only covers the bare minimum to keep you from disease then it’s time to start thinking about how much you are actually getting.

Zinc is found in a wide variety of foods, most prominently in oysters, and to a lesser degree in most animal proteins, nuts, beans, whole grains, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.

Absorption is greater from animal products than a diet rich in plant proteins as phytates, which are found in such plant products as whole grains, cereals, and legumes amongst others, can decrease the absorption of zinc.

Just to give you an idea of the amount of zinc that can be found in food, one oyster contains approximately 15mg, a double cheese burger has roughly 5mg, one cup of brown rice contains 1mg, one cup of cooked chickpeas has an upwards of 6mg, a 100g T-bone steak contains 5mg, and 100g of chicken has around 1.5mg.

The RDA for zinc is 15mg and is inadequate for optimum health.

As an essential mineral, zinc is found in almost every cell in the body. Zinc is necessary for wound healing, supports a healthy immune system, and helps maintain your sense of taste and smell.

It also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood and adolescence. The main role that zinc plays is the protection and repair of DNA, and for this reason it is found in higher levels in animals and fish than in plants.

Several signs of zinc deficiency can include loss of appetite, growth retardation, diarrhoea, hair loss, delayed sexual maturation and impotence, lack of resistance to infection, poor skin health (eg. acne, dermatitis, etc.), bone health, and mental and emotional problems.

Because zinc is required for the development and activation of T-lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that helps to fight against infection, the immune system is impacted greatly by even moderate degrees of zinc deficiency. So if you suffer frequent colds and recurring cold sores, zinc could be just what you are looking for.

Smoking, alcohol, and stress deplete the body’s zinc levels, as does frequent sex, at least for men as semen contains high concentrations of zinc. Men can lose up to 3mg of zinc per ejaculation. With an average daily intake of only 7.5mg, a man having sex three times a day has certainly blown it as far as zinc in concerned!

This is actually a quote I found during my research! A man having sex three times a day?! An Aussie man?! I surely doubt it. Could bullshitting be a sign of zinc deficiency?

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