best zinc to take with peptides FAQ

Most people, including vegetarians, can consume enough zinc through a balanced and varied diet. Your doctor may recommend a supplement if a blood test indicates your levels are low. If you are zinc deficient, you may also need further evaluation to identify and then address the underlying cause of your deficiency. Some people swear by Cold-EEZE, a lozenge containing zinc gluconate, to reduce common cold duration and symptoms. But studies haven't consistently shown it to help that much, or at all. In addition, in one study, the majority of people who used zinc lozenges suffered adverse effects like nausea and bad taste. Zinc nasal sprays may also cause loss of smell. Zinc supplements may interfere with the effectiveness of quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics, so tell your doctor if you are taking a supplement.

Zinc is a trace mineral that's essential for the proper functioning of the human body. "Since we cannot produce zinc as an element, we have to eat it," says Teresa Fung, a registered dietitian and adjunct professor of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health. Foods including beef, shrimp, and pumpkin seeds contain high levels of the nutrient.

Zinc is vital for normal immune system function and wound healing. In addition, the body needs zinc for bone growth, the production of hormones such as insulin and testosterone, sperm production, and fetal development. Your body also needs zinc in order to smell and taste.

Symptoms of zinc deficiency include slow wound healing, poor oral health, loss of taste and smell, skin lesions, hair loss, poor immune response, and diarrhea. Children with zinc deficiency may suffer delayed growth, as well as diarrhea and frequent infections. All of these symptoms, however, could also be the result of other disorders or deficiencies. The only way to confirm deficiency is with a blood test to measure zinc levels in the blood. The risk of zinc deficiency is higher in older adults, as well as in people who eat a plant-based diet, women who are pregnant or nursing, people with gastrointestinal disorders like Crohn's disease and celiac disease, and those who have had bariatric surgery. Overall, zinc deficiency is rare in the U.S.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for zinc is 11 milligrams (mg) per day for adult men and 8 mg per day for adult women. For pregnant or lactating women, the RDA is 11 mg per day and 12 mg per day, respectively.

The more easily absorbed types of zinc supplements include:

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) includes the zinc you get from both the food you eat and any supplements you take.

Zinc is an essential mineral that keeps your immune system strong, helps heal wounds, and supports normal growth. It also affects your senses of taste and smell. Your body can't make it, so you have to get it from foods or supplements. You can get zinc from foods like oysters, meat, beans, and dairy.