In case you’ve missed it – we’re pretty big fans of minerals, they’re crucial for SO many essential functions within the body – but it can be difficult to know exactly which minerals you really need to perform at your best

…Cue in our Mineral Highlights!

And today we are talking about the especially-wonderful ZINC!

To put it simply… Zinc is one of those minerals that you DON’T want to be deficient in…

Why? Because it is responsible for so many functions in your body! (Including the ones that make you look a million bucks 😉 )

Not only is it essential for the activation of literally HUNDREDS of enzymes that are super important for awesome digestion (good digestion is crucial for you to be able to absorb nutrients)…

It’s also responsible for the following…

• Wound Healing including the prevention of the formation of scars (so important for stretch marks!)
• Strong Hair (zinc nourishes your scalp)
• Clear Skin (zinc controls oil production in your skin)
• Nail Growth
• Taste & Smell
• Good Vision
• A Strong Immune System
• Maintains Male Reproductive Health

What did I say… You don’t wan’t to be deficient in Zinc 😉

Symptoms which can be linked to low amounts of ZINC in your body:

• Getting Sick with a cold/flu on a regular basis
• White Specks in the nails
• Dry & Brittle Hair
• Hair Loss
• Dandruff
• SLOW healing wounds/purple marks on the skin post acne
• Lack of taste
• Loss of appetite

So HOW do we NOT be Zinc deficient?

Because our bodies cannot make Zinc, we need to get it from food sources.

Food Sources HIGH in ZINC…

• Sesame Seeds & Pumpkin Seeds (remember to activate your seeds & nuts!) 
• Tahini (Sesame Seed Spread)
• Leafy Greens (especially Spinach)
• Asparagus
• Cashews
• Almonds
• Organic Grass fed beef
• Oysters
• Beans & Lentils 
  

But before you run out to woolies and stuff your basket full of seeds & spinach – it’s important to remember where the food sources get their Zinc from…

We will give you a hint…

It’s the soil.

If the soil doesn’t have adequate amounts of Zinc – neither will your food sources!

And as you have most likely heard us talk about… 100 years ago or so the world’s soil was a rich source of minerals…but unfortunately these days (due to harsh fertilisers, chemicals & modern practices like deforestation) our soil is EXTREMELY depleted (learn more about that here)…. Hence the reason that many people in our Western World suffer from a Zinc deficiency.
For this reason we whole heartedly recommend you grow your own SUPER CHARGED food (packing the soil with extra minerals & nutrients) to make sure you are getting enough of this legendary little mineral (and all the others!).

If you are buying your produce, go for only ORGANIC as much as possible – but our first preference is always to grow your own!

If you think that your Zinc levels might be considerably low (you can get this tested via a naturopath), you can take a Zinc supplement until your food sources are providing you with enough of the goods.

A great Zinc supplement that we recommend is Thorne Research, Double Strength Zinc Picolinate. (Please consult your health professional before starting a new supplement)

It’s extremely important to remember that supplements SHOULD NOT replace an amazing diet, and should not be used long term. Use until you are getting enough from food sources and then stop.

Any Q’s, shoot them down below – always love hearing from you!

Anth