Plenty of people started to pay attention to zinc when various colds and encounters with viruses took a toll, especially in the last three years.
Doctors, especially alternative ones, offered zinc supplements as a preventative aid to keep away from problems.
You would ask, what are alternative doctors? These medical professionals incorporate in their practice various systems of helping people to be healthy such as homeopathy, chiropractic, nutrition adjustment to patients’ needs, faith healing, herbal medicine, and prevention of diseases.
Why is zinc so good as a supplement?
Zinc is one of the essential microelements that help the immune system. Zinc helps shorten the duration of infections such as the common cold. Zinc prevents virus replication in the cell. Zinc is needed for more than 100 enzyme reactions and producing cells, proteins, DNA, for vision, sexual function, hearing, hair, and skin. Zinc takes part in the production of immunoglobulins and balances immune responses to intruders. Additionally, zinc prevents lodging various microbes on the mucous linings of the nose and throat.
Why do we need to take zinc supplements?
Our bodies do not produce microelement zinc. People are getting zinc from food or supplements. The primary food sources for zinc are:
- Oysters, lobster
- Lamb
- Beef
- Pumpkin seeds, almonds
- Oats
- Chickpeas
- Chicken breast
People lose zinc during pregnancy and infancy. The body requires zinc for development, for thyroid proper functions, vision, sexual function, digestion, hearing, and more. Additionally, some conditions can cause zinc deficiency:
- Chronic kidney disease
- Alcoholism
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Sickle cell disease
Zinc deficiency causes:
- Inability to concentrate
- Recovery difficulties
- Hair loss
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
What type of zinc is the best supplement?
If our body requires zinc, the best option would be highly absorbable and bioavailable zinc. It means that this trace mineral will reach cells as fast soon as possible.
Picometer form of zinc is one of the best absorbable supplements. You would ask why it is the best.
Pico-ions are smaller compared with the body’s cells’ mineral ion channels. Zinc ions can easily go through gates into cells without sticking in the middle of the journey. It means that zinc supplement is fully absorbable at the cellular level.
This pico-ionic size lets zinc supplements digest faster compared with pills and powder.
Additionally, zinc needs an additional amount of copper that helps with absorption.
Forms of zinc supplement
There are three forms of zinc supplements as
- Zinc lactate
- Zinc gluconate
- Zinc acetate
- Zinc sulfate
- Zinc citrate
Zinc supplements come in pill, powder, tablet, or liquid forms.
Usually, zinc comes as insoluble, and it needs transportation molecules to go through the fatty membranes of the cell.
Quercetin, hydroxychloroquine, and epigallocatechin-gallate(EGCG) work as transport molecules. They are called zinc ionophores. If you take early zinc with one of the ionophores, the mineral helps reduce viral load.
Does zinc need copper for better absorption?
Yes, zinc needs copper. Why? Zinc supplementation reduces amounts of copper. It means that your thyroid will miss one of the main ingredients that help produce thyroid hormones and balance their functions.
Wrapping up
Zinc is an essential element that helps with infections such as the common cold and keeps the immune system balanced. Protein, immunoglobulins, and DNA production depend on zinc. Besides, our vision, hair, weight, and skin require zinc.
Choosing a picometer-size zinc supplement is a great idea if you want to achieve the best and fast results when you get cold or have a zinc deficiency. Your body cells will get zinc ions immediately because of their small size. The recovery will be fast and timely, especially if you take supplements at the beginning of the viral attack.
Do you have an experience with zinc supplements? What does work best for you?