After the long, cold winter we have just come through, the first days of spring are a welcome change. Seeing the daffodils springing up, enjoying food served hot off the grill, hearing the birds chirping and smelling freshly mown grass and honeysuckle are a few of the sights, sounds and smells of the season. But imagine if you lost your sense of smell, or your sense of taste, lost your appetite or suffered with macular degeneration where your vision was affected? Springtime would be completely different, and so would life in general. Unfortunately, for those who are zinc deficient, those challenges and losses can become a sad reality.

Zinc deficiency has become more common than many people realize. Experts believe that up to 2 million people worldwide may be deficient in zinc. However, zinc deficiency is not just found in the malnourished people of developing countries, it is quite prevalent in the U.K. and the United States. The CDC estimates up to 35 to 45 percent of the elderly in the U.S. have low zinc levels.  For this reason, we do a zinc screening test in our office as part of every nutritional evaluation.

Some common symptoms of zinc deficiency include:

• Loss of the sense of taste and smell

• Cravings for saltier and/or sweeter food

• Macular degeneration

• Frequent colds and viruses

• Slow wound healing

• Skin rashes

• Acne

• Eczema

• Mental sluggishness/poor memory

• Sleep disturbances

• White spots on the fingernails

• Hair loss

• Prostate enlargement

• Hormonal imbalance

• Infertility

• Low libido

Many of the biological functions of the body, such as immune function, reproduction, hormonal balance, blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and digestion, are dependent on zinc. Zinc is also a strong antioxidant that can prevent toxins from building up in tissues. It has proven to be helpful in the treatment of Alzheimer’s by helping eliminate heavy metal build up in the brain. (Aluminum is one of the main toxic metals associated with Alzheimer’s.)

Zinc also functions in more enzymatic reactions than any other mineral. Enzymes need minerals and vitamins in order to work properly. If an enzyme is lacking the necessary mineral, it cannot fulfill its appropriate action, no matter how much of the vitamin is available. Take our vision, for example.  The enzyme that activates Vitamin A needs zinc. If zinc isn’t present, then Vitamin A cannot be converted to its active form and night blindness can develop.

Because zinc is so widely used throughout the body, it needs to be replenished regularly. The body does not synthesize zinc, so it must be acquired from food.  Some of the best food sources of zinc include oysters (the highest concentration of zinc) meats, liver, dairy products, whole grain products, eggs, fish, shellfish, beans, nuts and seeds. Zinc from animal sources is absorbed easier than from plant sources, so vegetarians are at a higher risk for zinc deficiency. People with digestive problems and low stomach acid, as well as women on hormone replacement therapy or the birth control pill, are also at greater risk.

Caution is warranted when supplementing with zinc, as too much zinc can lead to zinc toxicity. Symptoms of excessive zinc include loss of appetite, poor immune function, nausea and vomiting. Experts suggest performing a zinc test to measure your current zinc level and then supplement accordingly. Once you start taking zinc, you should conduct another test six to eight weeks later since your zinc level should improve.

Making sure your zinc levels are in a good range will help you enjoy the smells, tastes and vivid beauty of spring. We provide a simple zinc test in our office as a general screening of your zinc levels.

You can also perform this test at home. If you are interested in having a zinc screening test, please email me at pathwaysth@gmail.com and put “Zinc” in the subject line, or call the Pathways to Healing office at 706-454-2040.