This raises your heart disease & Alzheimer’s risk

Although many people think macronutrients like proteins, fats and carbs are most important to your body, the truth is some of the tiniest nutrients pack the biggest punch when it comes to your health.

And arguably nowhere is this truer that with Zinc!

Here’s the scoop on all that zinc does for you, why you may be lacking it and very importantly, what you can do about maintaining a healthy level in your body.

The many wonders of zinc

When asked about zinc, most people say, “It has something to do with preventing colds, right?”

That’s true, but that’s just a drop in the bucket. 

Here’s a more complete picture of zinc’s resume:

Blood sugar balance

Insulin is needed for your body to move glucose from your bloodstream into your cells, and how “welcoming” your cells are to the instructions from insulin is called the insulin response.

When your body is low on zinc, your insulin response goes down…and hence your blood sugar level goes UP….raising your risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Healthy heart

Zinc and copper work together in your body to activate the enzyme superoxide dismutase, which is an antioxidant that protects your cells against free radicals.  Free radicals are one of the major contributing factors to heart disease.

Studies have shown that when someone is low in zinc, their copper level increases and leads to an imbalance of these minerals.

Not only does that mean that they are not working together and providing antioxidant protection against heart disease, but it also leads to copper toxicity which can cause GI problems, liver damage and even depression! 

Strong gut wall

Zinc is a key player in maintaining the strength and integrity of your gut wall, and being low in it can contribute to leaky gut.

When your gut wall becomes leaky, toxins and poorly digested food molecules can bully their way through and enter your bloodstream, taunt your immune system and eventually trigger the development of allergies, sensitivities and autoimmune reactions.

Cold and flu prevention

Zinc increases the production of your immune system’s infection-fighting white blood cells, and helps white cells release more antibodies.

This beefs up the protection your immune system gives you against colds, flu and infections of all kinds.

Alzheimer’s protection

According to researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, zinc may play an important role in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s is characterized by an accumulation of defective proteins in your brain. 

Typically with proteins, their shape is very important.  Properly shaped proteins encourage proper cell support and passage of nutrients between cells.

But when proteins become “distorted” and lose their proper shape, they can form clumps that are typical of people with Alzheimer’s. 

Zinc is a key player in maintaining proper protein shapes in your body…and as a result, may in turn help prevent the “protein clumping” associated with Alzheimer’s.

Could YOU be running low?

It’s easy to see why you could be running low in zinc.  The most common causes of zinc deficiency include:

1) Insufficient dietary sources of zinc—mainly due to eating nutrient-poor processed foods

2) Harmful bacterial overgrowth in the gut (dysbiosis) and intestinal permeability (leaky gut) that lead to poor nutrient absorption

3) Protein deficiency, especially the amino acid cysteine which is needed to help shuttle and store zinc in the body

4) Certain medications including diuretics and oral contraceptives

Help turn it around!

The good news is that you can help overcome a zinc deficiency and see some dramatic changes in your health as a result!

Here are five surefire ways to make sure your body is getting and keeping the zinc it so desperately needs:

1- Get dietary sources of zinc

Great dietary sources of zinc include:

• Calf’s liver
• Crimini mushrooms
• Spinach
• Beef
• Lamb
• Summer squash
• Asparagus
• Venison
• Swiss chart
• Shrimp
• Yogurt
• Green peas
• Broccoli

2- Eat meals that are more easily digested and encourage a healthier gut wall

Taking in food and supplemental sources of zinc is only half of the equation. 

The other half is that you must ensure you are actually absorbing the zinc.

And that is a factor of how efficient your digestion is. 

The best way to make sure your meals are not only loaded with delicious real, nutrient-dense foods but that you are also helping to ensure efficient digestion is to follow the guidelines in the Great Taste No Pain system.

Or if you’re gluten sensitive or have Celiac, Great Taste No Gluten.

Both systems give you loads of delicious ways to enjoy nutrient-packed real foods and show you how to construct meals that are a far easier for your system to break down.

Not only will this help enhance your absorption of all nutrients (including zinc) but it will also help curb GI troubles like gas, bloating, constipation and acid reflux too!

3- Supplement with probiotics to encourage gut wall health

The integrity of your gut wall is also dependent on having a healthy gut flora balance.

The friendly bacteria in your system help to keep the gut wall non-porous, as well as assisting with digestion and nutrient absorption and keeping harmful bacteria under control.

To support gut wall health, in addition to a healthy diet like I mentioned above, it's essential to give your gut a helping hand with a quality probiotic supplement like Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula.

Super Shield contains strong, effective strains of 13 friendly bacteria that are robust and ready to take their place in your system.  They'll help fend off harmful bacteria, keep your digestion smooth, aid in absorbing of nutrients and help make your gut wall strong and effective. 

4- Consider supplementing with zinc

Many experts recommend 10-30 mg. a day in the form of zinc gluconate or zinc citrate, as those forms have the greatest potency and are well-tolerated by most people.

5- Talk to your doctor about medication alternatives

If you are on diuretics or oral contraceptives, speak to your doctor about alternatives that don’t impair your absorption of nutrients. 

When your body is lacking in ANY nutrient, there will be health consequences to pay…and zinc is no exception to that rule!

Make sure your body is getting all it needs and it will thank you handsomely for years to come.

To your health,

Sherry Brescia