Zinc: Understanding this Essential Mineral

Zinc is a healing mineral. It is imperative to our health and like many other fundamental vitamins and minerals, so often overlooked. Unfortunately, our food supply has become a inadequate source of zinc due to poor remineralization of our soil and the refining of much of the food in the Western diet. In particular, vegetarians and vegans may become dangerously deficient, as the best food sources of this mineral are red meat, turkey and chicken.

Could You Be Zinc Deficient?

Are you ready to learn more about this amazing mineral? In “Zinc, The Gentle Strength and Balancing Mineral,” Dr. Lawrence Wilson outlines just how zinc plays a role in our body’s processes–from fertility, immunity, mental development, cardiovascular health and more. According to Dr. Wilson, symptoms of a deficiency include:

• Skin. These include stretch marks on the skin, varicose veins, and, in fact, most cases of acne, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, boils, vitiligo, skin infections and many others.  They also often include white spots on the fingernails, although there are a few other causes of this symptom.

Girls experience even more acne at times of the month because their period regulates zinc and copper levels.  When copper is higher than zinc, acne develops in many cases, and is a symptom of a need for zinc and other minerals as well.

• Yeast conditions.  It is critical for the immune response, and it opposes or antagonizes too much copper in the body.  For these reasons, or perhaps others, a low tissue level is highly associated with development of fungus and yeast conditions anywhere in the body.
• Menstrual and Female Reproductive Difficulties.  Zinc and copper are maintained in a delicate balance.  Many menstrual irregularities such as PMS are related to imbalances in this area.  We recommend zinc therapy, for example, for many cases of premenstrual syndrome and even for certain menopausal symptoms associated with so-called estrogen dominance.  It has a moderating effect on these health conditions that is sometimes remarkable.

  Other conditions include cessation of the period in younger women who should have menstrual cycles, infertility, irritability and acne related to the period, and even some cramping associated with menstruation.

  Too much zinc given during pregnancy can rarely induce a miscarriage, so be careful when supplementing during pregnancy.  The amount would need to exceed 50 mg daily or more to cause a problem, in most cases.  The miscarriage may occur because too much zinc lowers copper excessively, which affects the estrogen level.

• Growth And Development Of The Fetus.  It is critical is for growth and development, both in the womb and after birth.  Thus, symptoms from birth defects to developmental delays of all kinds often have zinc imbalance, either as part or the entire cause.  Short stature, delayed testicular development, undescended testicles, and other growth problems often have this mineral as a part or the entirety of the cause.
• Male Reproductive System. The prostate gland accumulates zinc more than any other tissue of the body.  Seminal fluid or sperm contains significant quantities.  Most male reproductive and prostate problems have deficiency as part or as all of the cause.
  These conditions may include prostatitis, enlarged prostate, prostate cancer and other metabolic conditions related to male infertility.  They also include erectile dysfunction and some male hormone imbalances such as low testosterone and perhaps other hormone-related conditions in men.

• Vision.  Deficiency is involved in most vision problems.  Macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and night blindness, iritis and other infections are among them.  Eye doctors are about the only medical specialty that regularly supplements patients with this mineral.

  The retina of the eye is one of the riches tissues in zinc in the human body and one of the tissues most dependent on it, along with the male prostate gland and the intestines.

• The Brain.  It is thought to be a calming neurotransmitter in its own right.  Symptoms of imbalance include hyperactivity, ADD and ADHD, anxiety, irritability, nervousness, emotional instability, mood swings, bipolar disorder and many other mental and emotional symptoms.  Conditions such as epilepsy, seizures, schizophrenia and other severe emotional disturbances often have zinc deficiency as a part of their cause.  It is considered a “sedative mineral” due to its effect on the central nervous system.

  Zinc is also required for higher mental functioning and for mental development of the neocortex or new brain. Therefore it is an essential mineral in nutritional balancing science for mental and spiritual development.

• The Immune Response.  I prefer the words ‘immune response’ instead of ‘immune system’ because all body systems are involved with immunity.  Zinc is critical for this area of functioning, both in humans and in animals.  It is helpful to prevent all infections and to treat skin infections and others.  Those with AIDS, in particular, often benefit from supplementation.  Vegetarians often develop more infections because their levels tend to be much lower.
  Zinc is often given for colds, flu and many acute infections as it is generally helpful for these problems.  It works closely with copper in the immune response.

• Digestive system.  Zinc is extremely important here.  It is required for all digestive enzyme production.  It is also required to rebuild the fast-growing intestinal tissue, and for the production of bile, and liver and pancreatic secretions.  Ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, yeast infections, colitis, and many other digestive problems often have to do with low levels.
• Cardiovascular system.  It is required to give flexibility to the arteries and veins.  Common deficiency symptoms include hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, aneurysms, strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems.
• Surgery and wound healing.  Taking zinc before surgery can be most helpful to prevent complications such as infections, and perhaps even adhesions.  It is also required for wound healing, so it may help speed healing and prevent scarring, as well.
• Mental development.  Zinc is required for healthy mental development.  This is a specific process in which brain capacity increases, the immune response improves, the thymus gland either rebuilds or does not atrophy with age, and other changes.
• Other. It is essential for all connective tissue. Symptoms of imbalance or deficiency include problems with tendons and ligaments such as tendonitis, bursitis and, in particular, inflammatory symptoms.  It is a highly anti-inflammatory mineral needed to balance copper and other more pro-inflammatory substances in the body.

Pure Encapsulations Zinc 30 is a highly absorbable form of this mineral and can be purchased in our store. We recommend you consider a Hair Mineral Analysis to determine zinc and other mineral levels, as well as toxic metal levels in the body that could be dramatically affecting your health.