Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 4-22-22

Health
What is Zinc?
It’s a mineral your cells need to fight off bacteria and viruses and make the genetic material, called DNA, that tells your body how to work the way it should. It helps you heal wounds, aids your senses of smell and taste, and is important for infants and children as they grow.
How Much Do You Need?
An adult man needs 11 mil- ligrams a day, and an adult woman, 8 milligrams. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you’ll need more -- around 12 milligrams. Children need 2 to 11 milligrams depending on
their age and gender. Talk to your pediatrician about how much is right for your child.
Do I Get Enough?
Probably, yes -- most Amer- icans do. But some things can make it hard for your body to use it, including surgery on your stomach or intestines, alcohol abuse, and digestive diseases like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. And people who don’t eat meat or animal products can have a harder time getting enough zinc from food.
What Happens If I Don’t Get Enough?
It can make children grow
more slowly and delay puberty in teens. Adults who are low on zinc can have hair loss, diar- rhea, sores on their eyes and skin, and loss of appetite. It also can affect a man’s sexual desire. Talk to your doctor before tak- ing a supplement, though. These issues can be caused by something other than a lack of zinc.
Healthy Skin
Zinc helps your skin do what it’s supposed to: protect you from heat and cold, bacteria, and viruses. Your doctor might prescribe a zinc supplement or ointment to treat certain skin problems, like acne.
Can It Cure the
Common Cold?
Some studies suggest that if
you take zinc lozenges or syrup - - but not pill supplements -- within 24 hours of feeling a cold coming on, your symptoms won’t be as bad or last as long. (Nasal sprays and gels that have it are linked to the loss of sense of smell.) More research is needed to figure out if it really works and, if so, how you should take it.
May Help Prevent Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
This is an eye disease that causes vision loss over time. A large study of people at higher risk of getting AMD showed that taking a daily multivitamin with zinc -- along with vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, and cop- per -- may help avoid it. But other studies haven’t had the same results. If you’re at higher risk, talk to your doctor to see if a vitamin would be a good idea for you.
Zinc Supplements
Even though most Ameri- cans get enough zinc from their meat-rich diet, some people
take more -- as a supplement by itself or as part of a multivita- min. This can be helpful if you don’t get enough in your diet or you have certain medical condi- tions, but it’s not always safe. Check with your doctor first.
Too Much Can Be Bad for You
It can cause diarrhea, stom- ach cramps, headache, and nau- sea. And if you take too much for too long, you may have lower levels of copper (another essen- tial nutrient), a weaker immune system, and less HDL -- or “good” -- cholesterol. You shouldn’t get more than 40 mil- ligrams a day unless your doctor has told you otherwise. Talk to your pediatrician before giving a zinc supplement to your child.
Interactions With Other Medication
Zinc supplements can weaken the effects of antibi- otics, and antibiotics can make it harder for your body to use zinc. The supplements also can make it harder for your body to absorb some drugs, like the arthritis drug penicillamine. Talk to your doctor before tak- ing a zinc supplement.
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