If you are constantly catching colds, experiencing acne, gut issues, feel tired, losing hair and weight for no known reason and notice that food doesn’t taste quite right anymore, you might have a zinc deficiency.
Zinc in a nutrient required for optimal immune function. It’s the conductor orchestrating proper cellular division. And unfortunately, many people have a deficiency.
If you’re vegan or vegetarian, listen up! You’re more at risk for being low in zinc since it’s found in abundance in animal-based proteins. Nuts and seeds, however, have zinc content, but it may not be enough.
According to research out of Oregon State University, diets low in animal protein and high in beans and whole grains may lead to a zinc deficiency. Legumes and fiber contain phytates, which tend to bind to zinc and make absorption difficult. Age also is a risk factor. If your diet is high in copper, zinc may be low, as these two tango together, and high levels of copper usually coincide with a dip in zinc.
Optimal zinc levels are important to good health. Zinc is instrumental in hormone balance and enzymatic systems, which further contribute to supporting overall immune function. Viruses, bacteria, infections and pathogens are all invaders that can compromise one’s health. Zinc stands in the way and is one of the body’s first lines of defense.
A blood test to check zinc levels is not effective, unfortunately. It’s just not that simple. Zinc is distributed throughout the cells in your body, so blood does not accurately measure your levels at any given time. If you have the symptoms of zinc deficiency, you may want to get a hair analysis to measure your zinc levels.
Be sure, however, to think out of the box. Low levels of zinc may not simply be the result of you not receiving adequate amounts of zinc! It could also reveal a different issue, such as malabsorption due to poor gut health. If your body is not able to properly absorb zinc, it will be difficult to raise your levels until the root cause is addressed.
Certain medications and lifestyle choices can also impact zinc levels. Are you currently taking an ACE inhibitor, diuretic or Proton Pump Inhibitor such as Nexium? All of these pharmaceuticals are known to lower zinc levels or affect zinc's absorption. Excessive amounts of alcohol can also affect your body’s ability to absorb zinc.
Because gut absorption issues are on the rise, it’s important to take a zinc supplement that provides the greatest bioavailability. Not all zinc supplements are the same. L-Methionine is an amino acid that is easily absorbed by the body. By combining it with zinc, it increases the bioavailability of zinc! L-OptiZinc perfects this. Studies show that zinc bound to the “L” form of methionine provides increased absorption and greater sustained plasma levels in comparison to other zinc supplements on the market. This superior absorption may contribute to greater health benefits particularly for those with malabsorption issues.
In human absorption comparisons of L-OptiZinc with other forms of zinc on the market, zinc methionine was absorbed 16% better than polyascorbate and 25% more than zinc sulfate. Animal studies also show increased absorption of zinc methionine over other forms of zinc. This data demonstrated elevated absorption compared to zinc sulfate, particularly in diets high in fiber, which can inhibit zinc absorption. Zinc methionine, in fact, was 208% greater compared to zinc sulfate in corn-soybean diets, showing that fiber did not impact the absorption of zinc methionine. Animal studies also indicated superiority over zinc oxide.
Preliminary research points to L-OptiZinc’s ability to inhibit superoxide and hydroxyl free radicals greater than zinc gluconate, zinc picolinate, zinc sulfate, zinc citrate and zinc oxide. This superiority translates to a greater reduction in oxidative damage and DNA fragmentation.
Aside from its antioxidant properties, L-OptiZinc can help support cellular health, hormone balance, such as optimal testosterone levels, support healthy skin, hair and nails, ocular health, reproductive health, digestive health, immune function and much more.
Combined with quercetin, our Zinc Defense provides your body with the defense it needs. Quercefit®, a patented form of quercetin is also in our Zinc Defense, and is also more bioavailable than unformulated quercetin. Its enhanced absorption and solubility, which is 20 times that of regular quercetin, also means that lower dosages may be utilized without losing efficacy and with no undesirable side effects.
Zinc is not easily moved through the cellular transport system and requires the assistance of a natural ionophore, such as Quercetin, for optimal absorption and utility. The proper amount of copper is also part of our formulation to help create a healthy, symbiotic balance between these minerals.
Our Zinc Defense will be launching soon.
Sources:
https://www.activebeat.com/diet-nutrition/6-clear-signs-of-zinc-deficiency
https://www.healthline.com/health/erectile-dysfunction/zinc#outlook
https://www.capsugel.com/consumer-health-nutrition-products/l-optizinc
https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/micronutrient-inadequacies/subpopulations-at-risk