Photo: Hai Pham

Can zinc make autoimmune worse?

Zinc also has protective effects against autoimmune conditions in which the body starts attacking healthy cells.

healthspan.co.uk - Can zinc support immune health to prevent autoimmunity? - Healthspan

What burns fat fast?

The 14 Best Ways to Burn Fat Fast START STRENGTH TRAINING. ... FOLLOW A HIGH-PROTEIN DIET. ... SQUEEZE IN MORE SLEEP. ... ADD VINEGAR TO YOUR DIET....

Last updated Sep 4, 2020

What breakfast foods are good for losing weight?

14 Healthy Breakfast Foods That Help You Lose Weight Eggs. Rich in protein and a wealth of important vitamins and minerals, such as selenium and...

Last updated Jun 26, 2020

Tasty juice “eats through” 54lbs of thick flab

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

There are multiple reasons why your body needs enough zinc. It's required for protein and DNA synthesis, healthy growth in childhood, fertility, and can also reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Recently, zinc's importance has been extended to immune function. It is vital in assisting the immune system in its job of fighting off invading bacteria and viruses and is used to reduce symptoms of the common cold, especially a sore throat. Zinc also has protective effects against autoimmune conditions in which the body starts attacking healthy cells.8, 9 How exactly can this mineral help to fight autoimmunity, and how much do you need? Here, we take a closer look at zinc in relation to autoimmunity.

What does zinc do?

Zinc is needed to trigger the activation of infection-fighting T cells.10 These control and regulate immune responses and attack infected or unhealthy cells, helping to ward off infection and disease.11 T cell function is highly zinc-dependent and this mineral is needed for their transformation into either 'killer' cells or 'helper/memory' T cells (which help the immune system to 'remember' a given pathogen should it encounter it again). Zinc also fights infection by subtly reigning in the immune response, to stop it spiralling out of control and causing excessive inflammation in the body.12 It's suggested this could explain why taking zinc supplements or lozenges at the onset of a cold appears to reduce its symptoms and duration. Zinc also helps to reduce the risk of infection in the elderly, whose immune responses are less efficient, and could play a role in reducing and treating some age-related and/or autoimmune diseases.13

What does a zinc deficiency look like?

If you're deficient in zinc, this can lead to skin conditions like acne or eczema, eye and skin lesions, slow wound healing, anaemia (by aggravating iron deficiency), diarrhoea and hair loss. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, food cravings for either very salty or very sweet foods, loss of taste sensation, an abnormal or metallic taste in your mouth, and changes to your cognitive health (like impaired memory).14 Chronic (long-term) zinc deficiency can increase production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (chemical messengers in the immune system) and this is implicated in a number of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes.15, 16, 17

Is non-alcoholic gin actually no alcohol?

The answer is, technically, no! Non-alcoholic gin drinks are specially designed to look and taste very similar to real gin, but with very little to...

Last updated Jan 18, 2021

Do cucumbers have protein?

According to the USDA, one 142-g cup of unpared, raw, chopped cucumber contains the following nutrients: water: 137 g. calories: 17. protein: 0.8 g.

Last updated Jun 9, 2019

Common yard weed melts 60lbs of fat?

Made into a potent powdered supplement blended right into water or your favorite beverage to be appreciated as a scrumptious morning smoothy.

Learn More »

Promotion

You can also be at risk of low zinc status as a result of excessive drinking and chronic illnesses, and conditions in which the body has problems absorbing nutrients including gastrointestinal disorders (also linked to immune deficiency) like coeliac disease, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.18

How do you increase your zinc intake?

The best way to start upping your zinc intake is with food. Good sources of zinc include beans and pulses, meat, seafood, nuts, sunflower seeds, chickpeas, greens, dairy produce and fortified foods like some breakfast cereals. Typically, most of us get enough from our diet, though it can be difficult to do this if you're vegetarian (because of the low bioavailability or take up of this nutrient from plant-based sources), or an athlete (due to intense over-exercise, which increases losses in sweat). On top of this, you might benefit from taking a daily zinc supplement. These come in a range of forms, including zinc acetate, zinc oxide, zinc citrate, sulphate, gluconate, picolinate, orotate, and chelated zinc. The picolinate and citrate forms have been found to have higher absorption rates.19 If you do opt for a zinc supplement, a typical dose is 15mg per day, based on the EU nutrient reference value for adults. What's more, the NHS warns against taking any more than 25mg daily, so be sure to keep to the recommended dosage.20

healthspan.co.uk - Can zinc support immune health to prevent autoimmunity? - Healthspan

Does honey lower blood pressure?

Honey has been linked to beneficial effects on heart health, including reduced blood pressure and blood fat levels.

Last updated Jun 24, 2019

What should I expect the first day of juicing?

The first day of your juice journey can be the most difficult. You might experience some unpleasant side effects such as headaches, fatigue or...

Last updated Apr 20, 2022

7-second natural hack eats through 64lbs of belly flab

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

Will running slim my face?

“What we call 'runner's face' does indeed often correlate with a runner's body type and lifestyle, but running does not specifically cause one to...

Last updated Mar 11, 2019

Tasty breakfast juice melts 59lbs of wobbly fat

A scrumptious morning smoothy based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.

Learn More »

Promotion

What food will wake you up?

5 Foods That Will Wake You Up for Work Eggs. A breakfast favorite, eggs pack protein which builds strong muscles and boosts brainpower. ... Fruit...

Last updated Jan 12, 2020