Zinc is among the vital nutrients found in various animal and plant foods. It’s also a popular ingredient in many dietary supplements due to playing an essential role in ensuring protection against many health conditions, such as inflammation, acne, skin health, etc.
Zinc can boost your well-being by enhancing cell growth and immune function, which is why it’s become essential for adults over 40. Since the human body can’t naturally produce zinc, adults should find alternative ways to obtain it, such as through supplementation and zinc-rich food.
Let’s delve deeper into why adults over 40 should consider using zinc regularly.
1. Boosts immune function
Zinc tablets have natural immune-boosting properties. They help keep your immune system functioning correctly. Zinc also enhances T-cell production – a critical element of the immune system in charge of mitigating infections and fending off foreign bodies and toxins that could endanger your health.
T-cells are also responsible for fighting off infe zinc tablets ctions and keeping your overall health in line. Adults over 40 are more prone to being zinc deficient. As they grow old, zinc levels in their bodies tend to drop, leading to reduced T-cell function. This deficiency can weaken the immune response, exposing them to illness.
Regular zinc intake reduces oxidative stress and stimulates immune function in adults over 40. Zinc supplementation is essential to alleviating such symptoms and protecting against sickness and the common cold.
2. It’s essential for skin health.
Zinc is a standard treatment for skin injuries, ulcers, burns, etc. Its mineral structure makes it essential for the production of collagen. Zinc is vital to collagen synthesis and can benefit inflammatory response and immune function – the three elements required for proper healing.
Due to being the largest organ in your body, the skin contains almost 5% of your entire zinc content. Aside from speedy recovery, zinc supplementation can expedite wound healing.
Since it stimulates collagen synthesis, zinc can also slow down age-related symptoms and signs of aging, such as wrinkles, dark spots on the skin, shriveled skin, fine lines around the eyes, etc.
3. It may help to lower the risk of age-related illnesses.
Zinc may help lower the risk of age-related diseases in people over 40, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), infection, fatigue, and pneumonia.
Since it alleviates oxidative stress and positively affects immune function, zinc promotes the growth and activity of natural killer cells, which provide critical protection against infection and foreign bodies that may attack your body.
Adults over 40 who take zinc-rich supplements daily may experience health benefits, such as:
- Enhanced mental performance;
- Higher mental clarity;
- Boosted focus;
- Higher energy levels;
- Reduced risks of pneumonia;
- Decreased possibility of infection.
A study from 2007 suggested that regular intake of zinc supplements can help older adults fight off infection by decreasing the risk of sickness by almost 66%.
4. It may help with acne treatment.
Acne is a widespread skin condition that affects the entire world’s population. This condition is a form of inflammation driven by the production of bacteria and obstruction of oil-producing glands.
Zinc provides immunity-boosting, anti-inflammatory, and skin-healing properties that can effectively treat acne by reducing oil gland activity, obstructing the growth of P. acnes bacteria, and alleviating inflammation.
In addition, the acne condition is closely associated with lower zinc levels. Therefore, zinc-rich supplementation may help to treat acne and reduce symptoms of eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.
5. Decreases inflammation
Zinc is a natural booster of inflammatory proteins in the human body. It can help decrease the oxidative stress that may cause chronic inflammation and lead to the development of health conditions and age-related chronic illnesses, such as mental decline, cancer, and heart disease.
A 2010 study indicated that regular intake of zinc supplements might lead to significant reductions in inflammatory markers. That’s why zinc is one of the most popular supplements for effectively reducing inflammation.
6. It may help to prevent age-related macular degeneration
Adults over 40 are more prone to a decrease in eye health. As they age, their sight abilities tend to wither slowly, leading to developing eye and vision problems. Adults between 41 and 60 naturally experience changes in the eyes’ focusing capability.
This condition is called presbyopia and is typical for people over 40. Aging also leads to a higher risk of developing vision problems such as fluctuating vision, flashing, seeing floaters, loss of side vision, and vision distortion.
Fortunately, zinc can help with eye protection by promoting the production of vitamin A and melanin. Melanin is an essential pigment for eye health. It protects your eyes and ensures the normal function of the retina and macula.
Zinc is a regular part of treatment against age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision and eye problems, such as permanent vision loss in adults over 40. Zinc supplements may prevent or slow cellular damage in the macula and the retina, thus reducing the impact of age-related vision disorders.
How zinc affects your health
Since it doesn’t naturally occur in the body, you need zinc to ensure your organism functions properly. Zinc deficiency could lead to various health problems.
This precious mineral is vital to many processes in your body, including:
- Healing
- Proper functioning of the immune system
- Development of the reproductive system
- Enhancing your sense of smell and taste
- Insulin production and storage
- Normal metabolism
- Proper thyroid function
- Protein production
- DNA protection
- Normal pregnancy and fetus development
Old age increases the risk factor for zinc deficiency, exposing you to symptoms such as fertility issues, dry skin and skin conditions, impaired smell, taste, and vision, thinning hair, decreased immunity, etc.
Aside from taking zinc supplements, we also recommend introducing high-zinc foods, such as:
- Shellfish – clams, lobster, mussels, crab, and oysters;
- Meat – bison, lamb, pork, beef;
- Poultry – chicken, and turkey;
- Fish – sole, salmon, sardines, and flounder;
- Legumes – kidney beans, black beans, lentils, chickpeas, etc.;
- Seeds and nuts – hemp seeds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, etc.;
- Dairy products – cheese, yogurt, and milk;
- Eggs;
- Whole grains – brown rice, quinoa, oats, etc.;
- Vegetables – beet greens, asparagus, peas, kale, and mushrooms.
Shellfish and meat are foods high in zinc. However, they contain zinc that stimulates bioavailability and allows your body to absorb the precious nutrients quickly.
Conclusion
Zinc is essential to cell growth, metabolism, immune function, and DNA synthesis. It can help reduce the risk of developing age-related health conditions and alleviate inflammation. Although you can ensure regular zinc intake through diet, adults over 40 should consider taking zinc supplements to enhance zinc absorption and ensure optimal health and well-being.