Zinc: the micronutrient with many benefits
The earth is full of minerals!
And those minerals play a role in our health and well-being, even if in small amounts. Those particular minerals include arsenic, boron, cobalt, copper, chromium, fluorine, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silicon, vanadium, and of course, zinc.
How does zinc benefit us? Studies have shown that the right amount of zinc promotes bone health. It promotes healthy blood sugar by making your insulin more responsive. Zinc stimulates 100 different enzymes and plays a role in your neurons. It is important in your immune function and T lymphocytes (your T cells). It plays a role in the healing of an injury. It can stop diarrhea. Zinc helps age-related macular damage. It can shorten the length of your cold. And the owner of this site has used zinc lozenges numerous times to stop a sore throat if the lozenges are started at the first sign of a sore throat and every two hours until bedtime.
How have thyroid patients used zinc? One way zinc has been helpful is in the lowering of high bedtime cortisol, as reported in this study titled Zinc acutely and temporarily inhibits adrenal cortisol secretion in humans. Patients have reported taking it about an hour before bedtime to help fall asleep, since for many, high bedtime cortisol can cause insomnia or difficulty staying asleep over the next hour or two. It’s then recommended to get off after several weeks, since chronic zinc supplementation is said to lower copper.
If patients are using the early morning CT3M, patients have surmised it might be better to take zinc two hours before bedtime so it has time to be out of the system before that early morning T3 dose, which in some, might be 4 hours before normal waking.
Patients have not noted bedtime zinc affecting the low cortisol one might have when awakening the next day.
What are natural ways to get zinc?
Foods higher in zinc include:
* pumpkin seeds
* squash seeds
* cashews
* flax seeds
* oysters
* crabs
* lobsters
* shrimp
* wheat germ
* lamb
* chocolate (yup!)
* spinach
* kidney beans
* garlic
* egg yolks
Cautions with zinc
Some have reported nausea with zinc, which can be related to not having food in your stomach if swallowing oral zinc pills. Some might notice a metallic taste in their mouth with the use of zinc. Longer than normal use of zinc supplementation can cause a zinc/copper imbalance.
What if I have the MTHFR mutation?
Some patients with an MTHFR mutation can have high levels of copper. And taking zinc will start the process of the excess copper to detox. And with the latter will come a lot of discomfort. So if you need zinc, you may have to start on very low doses, say experts about MTHFR.
Should I test my zinc and copper levels before getting serious with the use of zinc?
Wouldn’t hurt.
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