Importance of Zinc for the Immune System

So let's talk about the importance of zinc in your immune system .

Zinc is probably one of the most important trace minerals because it does so many things .

But one of the most important things it has the capacity to help is supporting your immune system .

It's involved in genes , DNA , synthesis , making DNA .

It's involved in many different enzymes .

It's involved in protein synthesis , wound healing , heart health , joint health , insulin , thymus function , and your gonads .

If you're low in zinc , you're not gonna make enough testosterone .

So let's take a look at what occurs if you become deficient in zinc related to your immune system .

First thing is that your thymus gland starts to shrink .

Okay ?

It's called thymic atrophy .

Well , you need the thymus gland to make T cells .

It's a training camp for white blood cells .

Also , your lymphocytes go down .

This is part of your army that fights infection .

Next one , defective white blood cell response .

So your immune system doesn't respond correctly anymore .

Also , you get a decreased recovery rate of the infection so it takes you longer to heal .

There's an increased duration of the infection .

There's also increased inflammatory response .

There's increased oxidative stress which creates a lot of collateral damage .

And then you have a general decreased capacity to fight off infections .

And you're susceptible to viruses and bacteria .

Other than that , you're good to go .

Now the question is how do you get it ?

Well , there's certain foods that are very high in zinc .

Oysters are at the top of the list and all also other shellfish .

Red meat is a good source of zinc and other trace minerals .

Seafood , fish and pumpkin seeds .

If you wanted to get it as a supplement , I recommend getting the Zinc Byglycinate chelate .

Why ?

Because this is much more bioavailable than other sources .

It has a 230% better absorption rate than zinc sulfate and a 390% better absorption rate than zinc oxide .

There are certain things in your foods that can prevent the absorption of zinc .

1 are phytates .

Now where do you get phytates ?

That's in all the cereals .

It's in the whole grains .

It's in the bran .

So if you're consuming cereal on a regular basis or you're doing breads and pasta and cereal and crackers , things like that , you potentially could be deficient in zinc .

Also , oxalates can deplete your zinc and that would be in spinach , almonds , chocolate , kiwi , rhubarb , and acids .

Antacids will also lower the absorption of zinc and it really has to do with your stomach acid .

You need a lot of strong stomach acid to pull in the zinc .

So antacids pull the stomach acid out leaving you deficient in stomach acid and now you can absorb zinc .

Also , malabsorption .

If there's some type of pre existing gut , damage or inflammation in your gut because of whatever .

Maybe you took antibiotics when you're younger .

That could prevent the absorption of zinc .

Also , gastric bypass could be another situation .

So if you have any of those conditions , you need to take more zinc especially if your immune system is weakened and you're more susceptible .

You haven't seen my comprehensive video on boosting your immune system .

I put it right here .

Check it out .