Isn't it interesting that us humans have to gnaw on metal in order to stay healthy? Zinc is one of those metals we need to ingest. Why?

It's not just humans that need zinc to live properly. Many animals and plants also need zinc. It's an important part of our immune system. If we don't get enough zinc in our bodies, our immune system can't work properly. Hundreds of thousands of people die each year due to inadequate intake of zinc.

What's even more surprising is that the amounts you need to take in are relatively low. Only 8mg/day for women and 11mg/day for men.

Zinc not only helps with the immune system, but also with memory, wound healing, eye health, acne, and osteoporosis.

So where do you get zinc into your diet? Besides gnawing on hunks of metal?

If you like oysters, you're in luck. Six oysters have 33mg of zinc in them! That's your whole daily requirement right there, and then some.

A rack of ribs provides 39mg of zinc. Yumm!

It might be time to add wheat germ into your diet. You get 17mg of zinc for 100g of wheat germ.

How about snacking on pumpkin seeds? You'll take in 10mg of zinc for 100g of those. And they're mighty tasty roasted.

There are other foods with smaller amounts, like spinach and nuts. But in general most people who aren't eating oysters every day probably want to make sure their daily multivitamin has zinc in it. That way you can be sure to always get your proper amounts of zinc into you without becoming an oyster-fest location. Not that oysters are bad, of course. But eating six of them every day might not be in your budget or easy to do in the part of the world you live in.

Whatever you choose to do, just make sure that you get those healthy zinc levels maintained each day!





Lisa Shea's Library of Low Carb Books