Healthy Bits · Nutrition & wellness
Zinc
Zinc is a mineral your body uses for hundreds of jobs, including normal immune function, wound healing, healthy skin, and your senses of taste and smell. Your body doesn't store zinc, so you need a little every day.
Good sources include:
- Oysters, the richest food source by far
- Beef, lamb and poultry
- Pumpkin and hemp seeds
- Chickpeas, lentils and other beans
- Cashews
Plant sources contain phytates, compounds that can reduce zinc absorption, so soaking or sprouting beans and grains may help. That's especially useful if you eat mostly plants.
More isn't better with zinc: high doses over time can lower copper levels and upset your stomach. If you're considering a supplement, check with your doctor or practitioner. Try this: sprinkle 2 tablespoons of pumpkin seeds on a salad or oatmeal today.
- minerals
- immunity
- supplements
Healthy Bits are for general education and aren’t medical advice. Check with your doctor or healthcare provider before making changes, especially if you’re pregnant or nursing, take medication, or are managing a health condition.