Zinc

Build a strong immune system with a strong zinc

Zinc is one of the essential trace elements in the human body

Since the body cannot produce zinc itself, it is very important that we get zinc in our diet. A total of around 300 enzymes require the mineral zinc in order to work properly. Zinc is thus involved in numerous processes in the human body, including metabolic processes. Examples are the breakdown and production of fats, proteins and carbohydrates

A zinc deficiency often shows up in brittle hair and nails and dry skin. Zinc supports the metabolism , the immune system and helps with diabetes mellitus and allergies.

A stronger immune system with zinc

The trace element zinc is the insider tip for the immune system.

Zinc is involved in the performance of the immune system at all levels and supports a number of defenses. Zinc deficiency consequently leads to an impairment of the immune system. 10 mg would be sufficient to cover the need. High zinc losses reduce performance, weaken the organism and make it more susceptible to infections.

As a preventive measure, zinc strengthens the immune system and immediately renders viruses and bacteria harmless.

In Unizink®, the active ingredient zinc is bound to the body’s own protein building block aspartic acid. This connection can be absorbed particularly well in the small intestine and passed on to the organs.

Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, as a diabetic, athlete and the elderly people would benefit from a high quality zinc supplementation.

Natural mechanisms of excretion by Chlorella explained in 7 steps
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This review summarizes current basic science and clinical evidence examining zinc as a direct antiviral, as well as a stimulant of antiviral immunity. An abundance of evidence has accumulated over the past 50 y to demonstrate the antiviral activity of zinc against a variety of viruses, and via numerous mechanisms.

Zinc is an essential trace element that is crucial for growth, development, and the maintenance of immune function. Its influence reaches all organs and cell types, representing an integral component of approx. 10% of the human proteome, and encompassing 1OO’s of key enzymes and transcription factors.

Zinc status is a critical factor that can influence antiviral immunity, particularly as zinc-deficient populations are often most at risk of acquiring viral infections.

Zinc 101 or All you need to know about Zinc

What are the zinc deficiency symptoms ?

Zinc deficiency occurs when the body cannot absorb enough zinc from food. The cause of zinc deficiency is rarely diagnosed.

As zinc is involved in numerous physiological and biochemical processes in the body, zinc deficiency can be the cause of many and different symptoms, which can be grouped into physical and mental-emotional (psychological)

The physical symptoms of zinc deficiency are:

HORMONAL DISORDERS WITH POSSIBLE EFFECTS ON
  • libido
  • power
  • fertility
WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM
  • frequent runny nose, cough, or sore throat
  • flu-like infections (not to be confused with flu)
  • Herpes, especially cold sores
SKIN DISEASES
  • dry skin
  • flaky skin
  • acne
  • Eczema
  • increased susceptibility to skin
  • fungus
  • various inflammatory diseases with redness and pustules
  • Problems with wound healing
DISORDERS OF THE SENSES
  • brittle nails
  • chipped nails
  • increased grooving of the nail
  • white spots on the nails
DISEASE OF THE NAILS
  • brittle nails
  • chipped nails
  • increased grooving of the nail
  • white spots on the nails
HAIR DISORDERS
  • Hair loss
  • premature graying
  • dull and brittle hair

The mental and emotional zinc deficiency symptoms are:

Difficulty concentrating
Fatigue
Generally declining performance capability
Lack of drive
Behavioral problems in adolescents
  • jittery inattentive,
  • easily distracted
  • unpredictable in behavior

What are the most common causes of Zinc deficiency?

A deficiency in Zinc promotes infections and thus numerous diseases.

If there is a zinc deficiency, this can lead to various deficiency symptoms, as zinc is involved in many processes in the organism. So it is essential for the proper functioning of enzymes and hormones as well as other metabolic processes.

There can be various reasons for this. If there is a zinc deficiency, this can lead to various deficiency symptoms, as zinc is involved in many processes in the organism. So it is essential for the proper functioning of enzymes and hormones as well as other metabolic processes.

Unbalanced diet

In the case of a poor and unbalanced diet, the body does not receive enough nutrients and consequently not enough vital substances. This also applies to the trace element zinc.

A one-sided diet (when mainly consuming “junk food” or highly processed products or as part of a diet) or a fasting cure. Micronutrients (vitamins, trace elements and minerals) are not supplied in sufficient quantities. This can lead to a zinc deficiency.

​Insufficient zinc intake

If zinc is ingested with food, it has to get into the bloodstream via the intestines. This absorption process in the intestine can be disturbed and lead to an insufficient absorption of zinc.

This can have different causes.

For example, there may be an intolerance to the adhesive protein gluten (celiac disease). If a person with celiac disease ingests gluten (for example in the form of a cereal product), this leads to inflammation of the intestinal lining. Over time, the intestinal villi regress, which increase the surface area of ​​the intestine so that nutrients can be optimally absorbed from food. Accordingly, the inflammation of the intestines and the regression of the intestinal villi have an adverse effect on the absorption of nutrients.

Furthermore, certain substances can impair the absorption of zinc. This can be the case, for example, with an increased calcium intake – for example with osteoporosis. Phosphates (for example contained in soft drinks) can also impair the intake.

​Zinc robbers as disruptive factors.

Zinc robbers are foods and lifestyle habits that actively burden the zinc account or prevent the absorption of zinc. These include:

  • Caffeine, not only in coffee but also in various lemonades
  • high amounts of calcium, e.g. through zinc substitutes
  • Iron and copper in large doses
  • Cadmium, for example contained in linseed, liver, mushrooms, mussels

The substances listed do not completely prevent the absorption of zinc. The human body simply takes in significantly less of the zinc supplied. Conversely, this means that more zinc has to be added. To do this, it is sufficient to take a close look at your own diet.

In addition to the foods mentioned, lifestyle habits have a major influence on the zinc balance. Alcohol and nicotine are just as devastating as stress and exercise. Sports? Yes, because whoever does sport sweats. Potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper are also lost with sweat. The amounts vary depending on the sporting activity and the associated perspiration. However, there is no harm in exercising and eating well. After all, what we eat also has a
major impact on (athletic) performance.

Anyone who takes hormone preparations or drugs for gastrointestinal diseases over a longer period of time should also think about an adequate supply of zinc. These inhibit zinc absorption in the body, so that the deficiency can often only be remedied with high-dose zinc supplements. Corresponding zinc substitutes are inexpensive and, when used as intended, free from undesirable side effects.

Specific conditions for an increased need of zinc

    • Under certain circumstances there may be an increased need for zinc – e.g. during illness, pregnancy or in the growth phase.
    • An equally decisive cause of a zinc deficiency is an increased zinc excretion through medication or a loss of zinc (e.g. through bleeding).
    • In diabetics, an increased amount of zinc is excreted in the urine, as is when certain medications are given – for example, when giving ACE inhibitors, diuretics (water tablets), cortisone or laxatives.
    • Gastrointestinal diseases can also increase the excretion of zinc. Increased zinc loss can also occur in injuries or operations with high blood loss. Even unnoticed internal bleeding can lead to a constant loss of zinc.
    • High frequency and regularity of sport activities can also increase the need.

What is the daily requirement ?

BABY Male Female
0 to under 4 months 0.5 mg/day 0.5 mg/day
4 to less than 12 months 2.0 mg/day 2.0 mg/day
The Ideal zink requirement for CHILDREN
1 to under 4 years 3.0 mg/day 3.0 mg/day
4 to under 7 years 5.0 mg/day 5.0 mg/day
7 to under 10 years 7.0 mg/day 7.0 mg/day
10 to under 13 years 9.0 mg / day 7.0 mg/day
13 to under 15 years 9.5 mg / day 7.0 mg/day
TEENAGERS, ADULTS
15 to under 19 years 10 mg / day 7.0 mg/day
19 to under 25 years 10 mg / day 7.0 mg/day
25 to under 51 years 10 mg / day 7.0 mg/day
51 to under 65 years 10 mg / day 7.0 mg/day
65 years and older 10 mg / day 7.0 mg/day
PREGNANT WOMEN
from the 4th month		 10 mg / day
BREASTFEEDING 11 mg / day

Frequently asked questions

  • When a baby is exclusively breastfed and not supplied with any other food or supplements, breast milk is the only source of food. Thus, all valuable nutrients and trace elements must be present in sufficient quantities in breast milk. In addition to iodine, iron and folic acid, this also includes zinc.

    The mother loses around 1.7 milligrams of zinc per day while breastfeeding. The newborn needs this zinc for growth and blood formation. Both take place rapidly in the first few months, as every mother knows from her own experience.

    Studies also show how important zinc is for children’s growth (before puberty). Because zinc is (as in pregnancy) important for cell differentiation and metabolism. The zinc supply can only come from breast milk during breastfeeding. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding for a period of six months. It is therefore important that the mothers have a sufficiently high zinc level and thus provide the baby with sufficient amounts of the trace element.

  • During the months of pregnancy and while breastfeeding, the need for zinc is increased and the risk of zinc deficiency is greater. In this case, changing your diet is often not enough. A high-quality zinc nutraceutical matters. Zinc is essential for cell growth, cell differentiation and metabolism.

    GROWTH : During pregnancy, the growth is enormous considering an egg cell turns into a complete human being in just a few months. Metaphorically speaking, a single cell – the egg cell – creates a highly complex human organism.

    CELL DIFFERENTIATION : The cell differentiation is part of this amazing process. In simple terms, cell differentiation means the specialization of cells. To put it in an exemplary (and very simplified) way, one could say that a simple cell becomes a brain cell or a liver cell. The cell takes on a special task and will henceforth reproduce itself as such. Given the multitude of human organs, it is easy to imagine how often cells differentiate in the course of the development of a human organism.

    METABOLISM : The metabolism is increased during pregnancy. Especially in the last third of pregnancy, this is also reflected in a real need for more calories, up to 300 kcal per day, which need to be digested. In addition, many women experience an increased appetite during pregnancy. The associated additional calories are not essential for survival, but also contribute to an increased metabolism.

  • There are basically two ways of doing this, by a blood test and by observing the symptoms of zinc deficiency.

    1. The blood testThe blood test determines the zinc content of the blood . In addition to the zinc level itself, signs of a zinc deficiency are changes in the hormone cortisol contained in the blood and a lower number of blood cells . It is important to know that the blood test does not necessarily have to be exact. Some medical professionals are of the opinion that there is no correct conventional medical method for determining the zinc value. The fact is that a large part of the zinc is stored in the body.
      • 60% in the muscles
      • 30% in the bones
      • 10% in other body tissues such as the prostate, liver or brain
      • there is only 6-12mg / l zinc in the blood

      If there is a shortage of zinc, the supplies are used up first (in total approx. 2 to 4 g zinc). It is advisable to describe the zinc deficiency symptoms in detail with your family doctor, to narrow down the causes for them and, ideally, to exclude them. Eating habits should definitely be included in the analysis. For this it can be useful to keep a food diary over a period of several weeks. If this turns out to be low in zinc, this is a first indication of a possible zinc deficiency.

    2. Observe zinc deficiency symptoms

      Detecting zinc deficiency is not too easy as there are multiple factors. Usually there are several symptoms that are not particularly characteristic in themselves, but give an overall picture that indicates a zinc deficiency. What is most striking is the weakened immune system and the associated susceptibility to infection.

      Special attention is required here. Frequent cold sore repeated (lip) herpes are good indications(diarrhea is such a signal). When the immune system is weakened, the trace element zinc, which is absorbed through the intestines, plays an important role in maintaining the immune system. The intestine is the number one immune organ in the body. For this reason, intestinal problems cause problems with the body’s own defenses in the vast majority of cases. Regardless of whether the zinc value is correct, it is therefore important to find the causes. Most of the time, a change in diet and / or lifestyle is necessary. When the body’s defenses are exhausted, long and frequently recurring diseases can occur.

      Diseases of the nails and hair are not just a question of beauty. These indicators should not be overestimated either, but they should be taken seriously. In this case, taking it seriously means ruling out other causes and consulting your family doctor. Under no circumstances should the visit to the doctor be postponed if other symptoms of zinc deficiency occur at the same time.

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