HEALTH AND WELLBEING
HERE'S WHY YOU NEED ZINC AND HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING ENOUGH
This crucial mineral plays a vital role in overall health. Liz Connor finds out some of the best dietary sources... Zinc plays a vital role in overall health and function, from aiding our sense of taste and smell and helping heal wounds efficiently, to supporting the immune system and much more. Because zinc activates the enzymes that break down proteins in viruses and bacteria, a deficiency can mean we're susceptible to infection and associated symptoms.
The NHS advises you shouldn't take more than 25mg of zinc supplements a day, unless advised to do so by a doctor. HOW CAN I GET ZINC IN MY DIET? "Most adults obtain sufficient amounts of zinc in their diet from eating a wide range of different foods, each containing moderate amounts of zinc, rather than from a few foods containing high levels of zinc," says Anne de la Hunty, a senior scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation (nutrition.org.uk).
While there's no research to suggest zinc supplements can prevent coronavirus - or any other supplement for that matter ensuring all our nutritional needs are met, primarily through a varied healthy diet, is vital for helping overall immune function. HOW MUCH ZINC DO WE NEED? Dr Sarah Brewer, medical director at Healthspan (healthspan.co.uk), explains the EU recommended intake (NRV) for zinc is 10 mg per day (although the NHS puts daily guidelines as 9.5mg a day for men aged (19-64 and 7mg a day for women) but says many of us don't realise we aren't getting enough. Brewer notes that, while we tend to pay a lot of attention to vitamins, minerals are equally important - although we often might be less aware of them. However, while getting enough zinc is important - it's also important not to take too much, as levels can build up in our system potentially resulting in serious side-effects. continues overleaf... 30 | www.thejerseylife.co.uk
