ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH ZINC????????

DEFINATION;
                      "Zinc is so often overlooked because it occurs in really small quantities in our bodies," says Amanda Bontempo, M.S., R.D. "You only need eight milligrams a day, even though it affects so much of  how your body works—but because we need so little of it, it doesn't take more than a mild zinc deficiency to affect you." Here are a few clues you need to boost your intake. 

1)YOUR STOMACH IS CONSTANTLY UPSET

"Zinc works with proteins in every organ and helps nearly 100 different enzymes with different processes, one of which is digestion," says Bontempo. Zinc acts as a co-factor in a lot of gastrointestinal activities, which means your body can’t digest food and absorb nutrients properly without it. "It's easy to mistake symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea for something like a gluten intolerance," says Bontempo. Instead, you might want to think about adding some zinc-rich foods, like shellfish and yogurt, to your diet. 

2)YOU'RE SUPER SORE

If your muscles ache days after a workout or you've got bruises that overstay their welcome, pay attention. "Zinc deficiency slows wound healing," says Bontempo. She emphasizes that healing is individualized by person, so there's no hard-and-fast rule about how slow is too slow for something to heal. However, if you see a change in how well your body is bouncing back, a zinc deficiency may be the culprit.

3)YOUR SENSE OF SMELL OR TASTE IS OFF

This symptom takes gradual hold and can be subtle, so the best way to catch it is by engaging in mindful eating. "This has to do with taste perception, which is how acutely you can actually taste your food," says Bontempo. Since most of your taste receptors are in your nasal cavity, the two senses are inextricably linked. Zinc is crucial to fully functioning taste perception, so if you start realizing you're not tasting or smelling things as vividly as you used to, it may be because you have low zinc levels. 

4)YOU'RE ALWAYS SICK

Don't ignore a cold that won't go away. "When you don't get enough zinc, you can experience an impaired immune response as a sign that those systems aren't functioning properly," says Bontempo. Keep track of your symptoms, and see a doctor if you're routinely feeling under the weather.

5)YOUR EYES TAKE FOREVER TO ADJUST TO THE DARK

You know how when you enter a movie theater, your eyes take a little while to get used to the dark? That's called your dark adaptation, and a zinc deficiency can mess with it (since zinc’s necessary for the production of vitamin A, which is key for eye health). 

6)YOUR CLOTHES DON'T FIT

Zinc is a vital part of keeping your metabolism running smoothly. "Zinc helps metabolize protein, carbs, and fat," says Bontempo. "When you don’t have enough, you can experience reduced energy, sluggishness, and you may also have a harder time losing weight." You don’t need to load up on supplements, though. "Since we really need so little, it’s easy to overdose on zinc and see negative effects," says Bontempo. Instead, just eat more zinc-rich foods, like legumes, nuts, and seeds.

7)YOU HAVE TROUBLE PAYING ATTENTION

"This is interesting because no specific mechanisms have been identified for low zinc causing impaired attention—but the correlation is there," says Bontempo. "Literature shows that it affects how long you’re able to sit and concentrate on something. In studies, when those with zinc deficiencies supplemented with the appropriate food items, they saw behavioral changes."

Thanks for reading my article for more visit www.healthnlife.blogspot.com