Forms of Zinc:   Zinc Picolinate, Acetate, Citrate, Glycerate and Monomethionine

Zinc Facts
Zinc is an important mineral that the body uses in a variety of processes. It fuels everything from manufacturing DNA, wound healing, maintaining a strong immune system, to fighting colds, flus, and other infections. Zinc is critical for proper functioning of the male reproductive system; it is involved in processes that contribute to normal sperm counts and regulation of the metabolism of testosterone and sex drive. It is also believed to enhance fertility in both men and women. The human body does not produce zinc on its own, so it must be obtained from outside sources. The mineral zinc can be found in both animal and plant food sources, but the richest source of zinc comes from animal food sources.

How Zinc Works
Zinc plays an important role in cell division, growth, and repair. It helps with wound healing and maintaining a normal sense of taste and smell. Zinc works as an immune booster and can be instrumental in fighting colds, flu, and other infections. Zinc is a component of more than 200 enzymes, most of them involved in protein and DNA synthesis. Zinc has beneficial effects on sex and thyroid hormones. The male prostate gland has heavy concentrations of zinc and this gland manufactures prostatic fluid in which sperm cells are mixed to make semen, and zinc helps regulate the metabolism of testosterone in the prostate, as well as sex drive.

Possible Benefits

• Acts as immune system booster
• Helps prevent and lessen duration of colds, flus, and infections
• Contributes to healthy male reproductive system
• May help enhance fertility in both men and women
• Regulates metabolism of testosterone and sex drive
• May prevent enlargement of the prostate gland
• Treats ailments like arthritis, underactive thyroid, fibromyalgia, and osteoporosis
• Improves insulin levels and may help with diabetes
• Aids digestion problems
• Assists with building healthy hair and scalp
• Diminishes ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Slows vision loss in macular degeneration
• Helps with hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease, and ulcers

Usage Guidelines
The RDA for zinc is 15 mg. Many experts recommend 30 mg a day, but taking higher doses for more than a month can interfere with the absorption of copper. Long term use of dosages over 100 mg may cause your HDL (good cholesterol) to lower and your LDL (bad cholesterol) to rise. Other toxicity symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. A zinc deficiency is characterized by poor healing of wounds, high susceptibility to colds and flu, a poor sense of smell and taste, skin problems like acne, eczema, and psoriasis, low sperm count, inadequate blood sugar tolerance, slow growth and sexual maturation, and a poor appetite.

Some Natural Sources
Liver, beef, crab, lamb, turkey ham, pork, chicken, eggs, oysters, seafood, dried beans, split peas, fortified cereals, wheat germ, brown rice, oatmeal, bran flakes, white rice, pecans, cashews, sunflower seeds, peanut butter, chedar cheese, milk, and American cheese