By Ali Wetherbee

Zinc is essential for cell health, growth, and division. It plays a critical role in the functioning of the immune system, the neurological system, and hormone production. It helps the body fight off illness and recover from colds quickly. Zinc is necessary for vision, taste, and smell. It keeps hair, skin, and nails smooth, strong, and supple. It also supports prostate health, improves fertility, and alleviates menstrual issues. Unfortunately, nearly 2 billion people worldwide are deficient in zinc. If you experience…

• Fatigue or lethargy
• Impaired mental functioning
• Weak immune system
• Frequent colds, flus, or other illnesses
• Dry, brittle hair and nails
• Hair loss
• Skin conditions, including rough skin, acne, psoriasis, and eczema
• Low libido or impotence
• Slow wound healing
• Altered taste or smell
• No appetite
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Poor growth and development

…your body may be lacking zinc. Risk factors include liver or kidney disease, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, gastrointestinal disease, alcoholism, and poor diet. In addition, those who take iron supplements in high amounts are at risk for zinc deficiency due to iron’s interference with zinc absorption, and those on birth control pills require extra zinc to maintain the balance with copper. Pregnant and lactating women, as well as vegetarians, also require a higher daily zinc intake.

How to Get More Zinc

Red meat, shellfish, nuts, seeds, beans, eggs, dairy, and whole grains are all high in zinc. Phytates in plant sources of zinc, however, can reduce the bioavailability of this nutrient, so it’s best to get your zinc from animal sources. Oysters are the most abundant source of naturally-occurring zinc, with ten times the zinc of red meat! Whole food Oyster Powder from Traditional Foods Market is made from whole oysters harvested from fresh, clean Irish coastal waters. It is a powerful antioxidant and can reverse free radical damage. Oyster Powder can also:

• Improve energy
• Decrease susceptibility to colds and flu, as well as reduce duration of illness
• Leave your hair, skin, nails, and teeth healthier and stronger
• Boost sex drive
• Improve appetite and, in kids, reduce “fussy eating”
• Provide essential fatty acids EPA and DHA
• Support a healthy pregnancy

In addition to substantial amounts of zinc, Oyster Powder contains many vitamins, amino acids, and 59 trace minerals. These trace minerals and co-factors ensure a proper balance within the body. Synthetic zinc supplements are isolated from other nutrients and thus can easily cause an imbalance in the body. You may wind up getting too much zinc, which can cause many of the very same problems it prevents. Whole food Oyster Powder contains minerals in the precise ratios nature intended. Each bottle of Oyster Powder contains over 100 oysters, which could easily run you $150 or more at the grocery store. Oyster Powder is a much more affordable and convenient — yet quite potent — option for those who would like the benefits of some extra zinc in their diet.