Key Benefits of Zinc

Ever feel like you or your kids finally kick a cold, only to catch the next bug? Or food tastes “meh” even when it’s seasoned? Zinc might be part of the story. It’s not a magic fix, but this little mineral quietly supports resilience every day. (1)

What Zinc Does in the Body (In Real-Life Terms)

Zinc is like the behind-the-scenes helper that keeps things running smoothly. It supports hundreds of processes—from immune response and healing to taste and nutrient absorption. When you’re getting enough, you bounce back faster and feel steady instead of stuck in “catch-up” mode. (2) (4)

Zinc and Everyday Immune Resilience

During cold season, kids bring home a lot more than homework, right? When we have enough zinc in our bodies, it helps support our immune system to stay strong when germs are around, without burning out. Instead of loading up on supplements when we’re sick, steady zinc intake through food keeps our bodies ready for everyday challenges. (4)

Zinc and Healing, Skin, and Repair

Ever notice a tiny cut that lingers or winter skin that cracks no matter how much lotion you use? Zinc might be the missing piece. This mineral helps rebuild tissue and keep skin strong. When we’re low on zinc, healing slows and our skin feels fragile. A little zinc goes a long way to keep our skin strong enough to face the challenges life brings our way. (8)

Zinc and Energy, Appetite, and Taste

Ever wonder why food tastes bland after being sick? Zinc helps keep taste and smell sharp, supports saliva for nutrient absorption, and even signals when food isn’t safe. Low zinc can dull flavors, cause dry mouth, and make kids lose interest in eating during growth spurts. (10)

Zinc and Growth, Development, and Hormone Balance

Zinc might be small, but it’s a big deal for growth and development. During childhood and adolescence, when bodies are building new tissue and growing fast, zinc helps make that happen by supporting cell division and repair. It also works with the liver to make growth hormones—the signals that tell the body to grow. Adults need zinc too, especially during hormonally demanding times like postpartum recovery or high-stress seasons. When zinc is low, kids may seem depleted, and adults can feel “off” without knowing why. (11)

Why Zinc Deficiency Can Sneak Up on People

There are a lot of common things that can rob our bodies of zinc over time—from pregnancy and breastfeeding to stress, illness, and poor diet--so it might take a while to realize we’re running low on this important mineral. If you're eating “pretty well” but can’t seem to shake the worn out feeling, it might be time to look at what might be missing—and zinc could be part of the answer. (12) It can also be helpful to give our systems extra support with herbal allies like the ones in our Natural Balance and Master Tonic blends.

Getting Zinc From Food First

Our body’s favorite way to get nutrients is through our food. Some simple ways to get more zinc in our diet include:

• Eggs for breakfast
• Beef in soups, stews, or tacos
• Pumpkin seeds as snacks or toppers
• Legumes cooked with love (soaked, skimmed, cooked thoroughly, and ideally with seaweed added for best digestibility)

There are lots of familiar foods that are good sources of zinc, and the best way for our bodies to get what they need is to regularly eat a variety of these colorful, fresh foods. (7) Consistency is more important than the added stress of tracking perfect amounts.

A Thoughtful, Balanced Approach to Supplementing Zinc

It can be hard to get everything we need from our food, especially when we’ve been sick or have big life changes. It can be tempting to megadose supplements at these times, but hitting our bodies hard with vitamins, minerals, and herbs can throw us even further out of wack.

Although our bodies need zinc, we don’t need massive amounts of it at once, and our bodies can only absorb it when it comes in a balanced form. That’s why our Oyster Min supplement is made with simple, whole food ingredients that can gently give our bodies the support they need.

Bottom Line

Life brings all kinds of ups and downs, and zinc helps us stay afloat and flow with the changes. If you or your family are under the weather for longer than what feels natural, or germs just keep getting you down--foods full of zinc might be just the thing to bolster your system, and a whole food supplement can help when you need an extra boost. Remember—our bodies will support us best when we give them gentle, consistent care.

Disclaimer - This blog post is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services and its statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider regarding a specific medical condition.

Sources:

1. Zinc and Your Health • The Nutrition Source https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/zinc/
2. 5 Things to Know About Zinc and Its Benefits | Banner Health https://www.bannerhealth.com/healthcareblog/teach-me/5-zinc-benefits-and-why-you-need-it-in-your-diet
3. Recent aspects of the effects of zinc on human health - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32394086/
4. Zinc: Benefits and How Much To Get Per Day https://health.clevelandclinic.org/zinc
5. Zinc and immune function: the biological basis of altered resistance to infection - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9701160/
6. The Role of Zinc in Immune Health and Wound Healing https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-Role-of-Zinc-in-Immune-Health-and-Wound-Healing.aspx
7. Zinc - Health Professional Fact Sheet https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/
8. Zinc in wound healing: Theoretical, experimental, and clinical aspects - Lansdown - 2007 - Wound Repair and Regeneration - Wiley Online Library https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1524-475X.2006.00179.x
9. The Effects of Supplemental Zinc and Honey on Wound Healing in Rats - PMC https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3586837/
10. The Influence of Zinc on Sensory Health: Taste and Smell https://www.healthpub.com/posts/the-influence-of-zinc-on-sensory-health-taste-and-smell
11. Zinc interacts with key hormones that promote bone growth and height. | Vinmec https://www.vinmec.com/eng/blog/zinc-interacts-with-important-hormones-to-help-bone-growth-and-height-en
12. Zinc Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/zinc-deficiency