Zinc Deficient Nation

Zinc is an essential mineral that our body needs, and as always, nature has provided all the zinc we need.

However sadly, due to modern day pollution, processing of foods, and genetically modified (GM) crops, many people are now zinc deficient. In fact, some estimations report nearly half of the world’s population is zinc deficient – including the United States!

One excellent source of zinc is from animal meat, but animal feed also comes from the same zinc-depleted soil  – resulting in animals that are also zinc deficient.

This is not inclusive to conventionally raised animals, but also to organically raised animals, due to the same reasons already mentioned: environmental pollutants (such as pesticides), nutritionally depleted soil, and  GM crops.

Organic farms cannot escape the pollution and chemicals from other farms due to wind and water run-off from excess rain.  (Unless, of course, we find a way to control the wind &rain, which, no doubt scientists are trying to do just that! (IE: Chemtrails?) 

And to compound the problem, we are a society who enjoys large quantities of artificial and fast- processed foods and will, sadly, agree to take a prescription drug (or two), rather than change our diet to one that is more nutritious.

Why Is Zinc Important For Health?

Zinc is a trace mineral, that is essential for proper immune function (illness and wound healing), repairing DNA damage and DNA synthesis, protective against cancer, protein synthesis, controlling blood sugar, and necessary for maintaining a normal sense of smell and taste.

It is also important to have healthy zinc levels in the body because zinc is a natural protector against lead, cadmium, and mercury toxicity – heavy metals that carry their own negative impacts on health. If zinc levels in the body are low than any of these (or all) toxic heavy metals are more readily absorbed by the body.

Even people who eat plenty of whole, organic foods, exercise, and are well-rested can have a decrease in their zinc levels, particularly under certain situations such as:

• Depression due to tragic circumstances
• Prolonged emotional stress
• Extremely athletic
• Excessive alcohol

Although it has been demonstrated, that food sources (both from plants and animals) are zinc deficient, there are certain foods that do carry higher percentages of zinc. They are: (The highest amount of zinc are found in those with *)

• Lamb*
• Grass-fed Beef*
• Veal Liver*
• Turkey
• Oysters*
• Scallops
• Crab*
• Shrimp
• Sesame Seeds*
• Pumpkin Seeds*
• Watermelon Seeds*
• Dark Chocolate*
• Peanuts*

Though there is an issue with the seafood listed, due to mercury toxicity and radiation concerns, please eat them with caution. All the other foods listed should be, of course, organic and GMO-Free.

There is an easy test you can do at home to see if you are zinc deficient or not – the Zinc Tally Test.  (see  Are You Zinc Deficient?)

Sources:

• Researchers Link Low-Level Mercury Exposure, Zinc Deficiency and Learning Disorders
• CADMIUM, THE PSEUDO-MASCULINE MINERAL AND A DEATH MINERAL
• Nutrition to Fight Lead Poisoning
• Zinc Deficiency in Human Health

Related Articles:

• Are You Zinc Deficient?
• The Truth about Sea Salt