IntraMIN Trace Minerals Explained: Zinc

IntraMIN has the trace mineral zinc in its formulation. Zinc is very important for growth, tissue repair, and immunity. Children with low zinc levels experience reduced growth. On the other hand, adults and the elderly are more sickly when they don’t have enough zinc in their bodies. Their wounds are also slow to heal.

No matter how important zinc is to our bodies, it is important to have it in balanced levels. We couldn’t just eat more zinc to improve growth or reduce our likelihood to contract diseases. In fact, too much zinc in our bodies can affect our body’s immunity to disease. Excess zinc can also prevent us from absorbing copper which is also important for our health. The two compete to be absorbed by the body and taking in too much can crowd the other.

People who have lower incomes have lower zinc levels because beef and seafood are expensive. However, individuals with higher incomes may also lack zinc because of unhealthy eating habits. Because of this, anyone can have low zinc levels without knowing it.

Where can one get zinc? Plant sources, such as whole grains, nuts, and legumes have some zinc in them, but this may not be enough. One should consider taking some supplemental zinc, such as IntraMIN, which also has copper to make sure you have a balance of both minerals. However, one should not take in more than 150 percent of the RDA or this might lead to other health problems.