Zinc and Your Immune System
People are starting to really think about boosting their immune systems due to the COVID-19. There are several ways to go about that. Everyone is aware of washing hands, not touching your face and disinfecting all surfaces that are touched regularly.
What about some other ways to boost your immune system? You can take vitamin C, vitamin D3 and zinc. Also, having a healthy diet and staying away from fast food, sweets, sodas (sugar in general), increasing your water intake and getting plenty of rest. Another great way to boost your immune system is to stress less! Stress and negative mindset can actually make you ill.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral that is naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is involved in almost 100 different enzymes in the body. It plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis and cell division. Zinc is also important in normal growth and development in pregnancy, as well as, growing children.
A daily intake of zinc is required to maintain a steady state because the body has no zinc storage system. Meaning you need to consume zinc daily because it is not stored in your body.
There are several foods that contain zinc. Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food, but red meat and poultry provide the majority of zinc in our diet. Other good food sources include beans, nuts, certain types of seafood (such as crab and lobster), whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, and dairy products.
Reasons for zinc to be low
There are a few reasons why you may be low in zinc. So taking extra zinc is very important the following:
- Vegetarians or vegans. Due to restricted diets, they can be low in zinc.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women need to increase their daily zinc, due to giving their zinc to the developing baby.
- Some gastrointestinal problems can cause a decrease in absorption of zinc.
- Consuming alcohol, the ethanol decreases the intestinal absorption.
Clinical Studies
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 50 subjects (within 24 hours of developing the common cold) took a zinc acetate lozenge (13.3 mg zinc) or placebo every 2–3 wakeful hours. Compared with placebo, the zinc lozenges significantly reduced the duration of cold symptoms (cough, nasal discharge, and muscle aches).
A Cochrane review concluded that “zinc is beneficial in reducing the duration and severity of the common cold in healthy people, when taken within 24 hours of onset of symptoms”.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic care looks at whole body health. When you see a chiropractor you should be concerned with how your body is functioning, rather than wanting to chase pains. Pain is a symptom of something that isn’t functioning properly. Whether it is from a misalignment of the spine, a vitamin deficiency, a food allergy or something else, chiropractors want to find out what the cause is.
If you have any questions on what chiropractic can help you with give us or a chiropractor near you a call! Chiropractic is very effective at managing pain, but all chiropractors are wanting to keep you healthy and functioning at the best you can! Think about putting chiropractic into your life as a lifestyle. (Which usually only consists of once a month adjustments, keeping your diet healthy and reaching all your personal lifestyle goals.)
~Dr. Lacey~
Carder Chiropractic Clinic, INC.
El Reno, OK 73036