Zinc And Your Immune System

Yuri Elkaim, BPHE, CK, RHN & Amy Coates, RHN, BSc.

Zinc is a rare mineral in the human diet but a very important one. Many people are deficient because zinc is as important to plant health and growth as it is to human health and growth.  Zinc must be abundant in the soil in order to be present in our fruits and vegetables. Even though zinc is only found in a few sources, getting enough zinc in your body is essential to having a healthy immune system.

That is because zinc not only helps metabolize certain essential nutrients, it also fights off free radicals and protects you against toxic foods and chemicals. Most importantly for the immune system, zinc is the key to proper T cell and killer cell function. It is also necessary for your lymphatic cells to do what they do, and it may be directly involved in the production of antibodies.

This means that, without zinc, your body cannot appropriately fight off infection, protect you against environmental toxins, or produce antibodies to keep diseases from repeatedly weakening your body. As you can see, zinc is an amazing and useful mineral whose presence in your body is essential to proper health.

Some of the healthiest sources of zinc come from squash and pumpkin seeds, whole grains like wheat germ, and nuts. Oysters have, by far, the most zinc and make a healthy snack if prepared properly. Other sources include shellfish and various meats.

Taking a zinc supplement is not a bad idea if you suspect that you may have a deficiency, however zinc intake should remain moderate. One telltale sign that you are deficient in zinc is white marks on your fingernails.  Too much zinc can cause nausea, stomach pains, and vomiting. Too little zinc can cause a weakened immune system and can even stunt growth in children and adolescents.

Other symptoms of zinc deficiency include depression, loss of appetite, inability to heal from wounds or bruises, nervousness, loss of night vision, impaired sense of smell and taste, and slowed hair and nail growth. This list of symptoms indicates that zinc is needed in the body for many functions, and very important to overall vitality.

Although often overlooked, zinc is a mineral we all need, and most of us aren’t getting enough. Now that you are aware of how much your health depends on it, maybe you can start making food choices that incorporate it in your diet more often, and in higher amounts. Although there are supplements out there, don’t use them in place of a healthy natural detox diet, because you will be doing yourself a much bigger favor by making sure your natural eating habits provide you with the nutrition you need.

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