Index
Zinc is a little talked about vitamin, but with great antioxidant power and essential for the better development and functioning of the body. Foods rich in vitamin Zinc are of animal origin such as fish, turkey and chicken and act mainly on the immune system.
- What is Vitamin Zinc?
- Foods that have
- Benefits
- Zinc in Pregnancy
What is Vitamin Zinc?
Zinc is a mineral found in much of the human body , much of it in body tissues. It acts powerfully in several bodily functions, from the proper growth of cells to the control of the body’s testosterone production. Currently the vitamin Zinc is one of the biggest demands among athletes, for having such an important role in the production of the hormone testosterone . This vitamin by activating antioxidant enzymes stimulates the body’s immune function.
Zinc is a mineral that is also found in the bloodstream and by controlling its levels it is able to diagnose some health problems such as atherosclerosis and chronic heart failure in case of altered levels. In the case of reduced levels it is possible to diagnose pernicious anemia, malnutrition, alcoholic cirrhosis, anorexia and tuberculosis. The reference values for normality of zinc in the blood is 70 to 120 ug / dl and in the zinc found in the urine up to 900 ug / g . The lack of zinc in the body can cause serious damage to health, such as delayed sexual and bone maturation, hair loss, skin lesions and poor appetite.
Foods that have
We usually find zinc in foods of animal origin, and are extremely important for strengthening the immune system, making it stronger to fight diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi . Being the main sources of this vitamin, foods like:
- Oysters
- Peru
- Chicken liver
- Almond
- Peanut
- Soy beans
- Beef
- Fish
We also find vitamin Zinc in shrimps, wheat germ, cereals, whole grains, dried peas, chickpeas and vegetables . Its intake has an adequate amount for each phase of life, being from 3.0 to 8.0 mcg / dl for children from 1 to 13 years old and from 8.0 to 11 mcg / dl for the age group of 14 to 18 years old. The indicated values in the blood are 70 to 130 mcg / dl and in the urine 230 to 600 mcg / dl, being considered a healthy person.
In addition to ingesting this rich substance through food, we can consume it through the help of vitamin supplements, which will play the role of meeting the daily need for zinc. We found this vitamin in the form of capsules that offer the exact amount for consumption and can be found easily in drugstores and online stores that offer this type of product. We can consume them through capsules that contain only the vitamin zinc, as well as others that are full-bodied with other substances such as calcium, selenium and magnesium .
Benefits
There are great benefits that zinc brings to human health, it is very important in the better functioning of the immune system, in the improvement of healing , in the control of diabetes and even in the reduction of the stress level. It is a powerful vitamin for hair care, reducing hair loss and bringing more life and strength. A great indication also for those in the battle against weight, zinc is used to decrease appetite and reduce weight.
In addition to this diversity of benefits, zinc also helps with growth, blood pressure control and is an aid in the treatment of depression . It has strong power in the treatment of the skin by controlling the levels of testosterone, the main responsible for the appearance of acne and pimples. It also prevents the development of eczema or atopic dermatitis as it is popularly known, which is caused by the deficiency of the vitamin zinc in the blood, maintaining a showy and healthy skin.
Many enzymes in the body are dependent on zinc for its best functioning, which is the case with collagen. Zinc promotes the development of collagen by accelerating the wound healing process. It is a strong fighter of prostate disorders , its lack can cause a growth in the prostate glands, with great chances of progressing to cancer. It acts to combat bone loss and the development of osteoporosis , since Zinc is a component of hydroxyapatite that is one of the responsible for strengthening bones, keeping them hard and strong.
Zinc in Pregnancy
During pregnancy the woman must redouble the care with her health, food and routine. All care is necessary for a better development of the fetus and for the woman to have a peaceful pregnancy and delivery . During prenatal care, it will be recommended by the obstetrician to use vitamins that will assist in this process and complement the vitamins.
Each of the recommended vitamins is of paramount importance in the development of the fetus, but zinc is essential in this role. It is responsible for cell multiplication, the development of the child’s neurons and the strengthening of bones. Vitamin Zinc together with iron are essential for the good nutrition of mother and baby, helping to build DNA and genetic material. Keeping the inclusion of foods rich in zinc in the menu, or if necessary supplementation through supplements, the child will be less likely to have problems with attention deficit, malnutrition and growth disorders .
Some women believe that taking this supplement during pregnancy can cause excessive weight gain. But it is proven that the vitamins serve to nourish mother and child without showing any changes in weight gain. But if excessive gain is found, the doctor must be informed so that a more balanced diet with less concentration of fat is passed.
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
