Zinc

The mineral zinc is needed in our bodies daily. Zinc is found in highest concentration in the liver, with lesser amounts found in the pancreas, kidney, and pituitary gland. Zinc-binding molecules act to transport zinc across the mucous cells of the intestine, where it is picked up by albumin molecules for transport to the liver and other organs. Once zinc fills the areas where it is needed the rest is excreted but never through the urine unless there is some type of illness. Zinc absorption occurs primarily in the small intestine.


Zinc In The Brain

It has been clearly documented that zinc is crucial for brain functioning. Memory and learning function is one of the expertise of zinc in the brain. A deficiency of this mineral will make your kid look like if he or she has no intelligence. An excess of zinc can cause epilepsy-like seizures but it has been also well documented that what we actually have is a more than 80 percent of the population deficient of this mineral. To be on the safe side many experts are recommending not to supplement with more than 100 mg of elemental zinc daily. Others suggest no more than 40 mg to avoid deficiencies on cooper and iron.


Zinc Deficiency Can Cause DNA Damage

It has been also well documented in experiments done in rats that zinc deficiency damage the DNA and also impairment in DNA repair. When replenish zinc can restore the damage.Chromosomes are made up of DNA which means that if the DNA is damage chromosomes can also suffer damage. Down's syndrome is the result of a damaged chromosome.


Wound Healing

Zinc speed up wounds healing. Zinc helps maintain the integrity of skin and mucous membranes. Patients with chronic leg ulcers have abnormal zinc metabolism and low serum zinc levels, and clinicians frequently treat skin ulcers with zinc supplements. The authors of a systematic review concluded that zinc sulfate might be effective for treating leg ulcers in some patients who have low serum zinc levels. Having a deficiency on this mineral means exposing ourselves to many illnesses, not only physical but mentally.



Bones And Skin

Many adolescents experience acne and pimples while approaching the adolescent stage. It has been reported that the reason is hormonal changes. Without denying this theory or fact, we can also theorized as many more studies and discoveries are made that this is the period in which kids start the process of growing up physically. It is a fact that zinc is needed in the bones more than ever if kids are to grow up. The amount of zinc needed to grow is a matter of a daily intake of zinc since the body doesn't store zinc for future use. Whatever zinc kids get from food will be used primarily to build bones. If there is not enough other areas of the bodies will suffer like the skin. Zinc is needed to protect the skin from fungus and bacteria. Acne and pimples in adolescents is the result of not enough zinc while kids are in their physical development.


Kids Sexual Maturing Problems And Zinc

"Where zinc deficiencies are severe, as in Egypt and Iran, growth and sexual development is so interfered with that the testicles and penis remain abnormally small and pubic and facial hair does not grow: yet zinc sulfate given as a daily supplement has brought development of the external genitalia and normal growth even in older boys. One young man, 20 year old, grew 5 inches in 14 Months". - Adele Davis, PhD in Biochemistry in her book "Let's Eat Right To Keep Fit" page 199, chapter 24 (soft cover).

This mineral had been on books for a long time but it has been thrown under the bus. Adele Davis has been a loyal advocate for this mineral since the beginning of the 70"s. It has been quite a while since we have been experiencing deficiencies on this very important mineral. The reason zinc had become deficient in our table foods today is not because the soil is depleted but because of chemical fertilization. Here is how Adele Davis wrote: "Deficiencies of another trace mineral, zinc, are commonly recognized in crops and stock foods over most of United States. Even when zinc is not actually lacking from the soils, deficiencies are caused by chemical fertilization saturating the soil solution to such a degree that that zinc cannot be dissolve in it or be absorbed by the plants."