This blog brings us to the end of our alphabetized Healthy Living series – at least the first go-round. We are considering starting it up again in the near future, beginning at A, with an all-new assortment of featured natural remedies and illnesses/conditions.
If this is your first glimpse at our Healthy Living series, what we have done, and probably will do again, is run through the alphabet, each time picking a supplement as well as a health need that both begin with the same next letter, offering a quick summary of each and how your health can benefit.
This time, we feature the letter Z. We a look at some of the health benefits of Zinc and then come back in the second half of the blog with a look at what the rare condition known as Zika virus infection entails.
Natural Remedy: Zinc
It is not an exaggeration to say that zinc is, well, it’s everywhere. At least in terms of your body. An essential trace mineral, zinc can be found throughout your body, parked inside every one of your cells, where it primarily works as a component in more than 200 enzymes. If medals were given out to body-contained minerals in terms of their respective involvements in enzymatic reactions, zinc would win the gold.
Ou bodies naturally come with a certain amount of zinc already there, but it’s up to us to continually work to replenish it through a healthy diet and, as needed, through the help of supplementation. Its beneficial effects are many and significant ranging from its contribution to enhancing our immunity (most notably against viral conditions such as colds), the healing of wounds, skin health, and, yes, sexual function.
A quick note about the dietary aspect of zinc; it works best if you follow a healthy, varied diet, not one of random selection of what to buy at the grocery store. Among the foods best known for their zinc content are beef, chicken, seafood, and fortified breakfast cereals (while also looking carefully for cereals that aren’t overloaded with added sugar, like many are.
4 of Zinc’s Lesser-Known Health Benefits
Let’s cut to the chase and give a brief rundown of how zinc can work best to help keep you in optimal health, keeping in mind that in some parts of the world a zinc deficiency is somewhat common:
Thwart age-related macular degeneration: Research has indicated that taking zinc supplements orally can slow the progression of this eye disease. Note, too, that supplemented zin can help guard your retinas from adverse free radicals that can damage cells.
Control acne: Zinc can ward off issues related to your skin, hair, and nails in general. In terms of your skin, zinc plays a role in helping your skin maintain proper hydration and oil content, and it can provide beneficial effects to both your sebum production and hormonal metabolism, two factors related to acne issues.
Treat diarrhea: With adult supervision, zinc supplements might alleviate diarrhea symptoms in children, particularly those with a zinc deficiency, possibly linked to malnutrition. Evidence also suggests that zinc can at least shorten the duration of bouts with diarrhea.
Aid Brain Health and Mood: Research has suggested that a zinc deficiency can contribute to flawed mental and memory function as well as mood issues in both children and the elderly.
Health Condition: Zika Virus
In light of the fact that infections sourced from the zika virus are comparatively rare in America – it is found mostly in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, the Americas, Southern Asia, and the Western Pacific – it’s important to at least be aware of it and know what it is. It is contracted from a bite of the Aedes mosquito. It is believed that most people with the infection don’t develop symptoms, but those that do might be hit with rash, fever, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and/or headache lasting anywhere from two to seven days.
But more serious conditions can result, such as a Zike infection during pregnancy can lead to children being born with Zika-related microcephaly. Such an infection also has been linked to Guillain Barre syndrome, neuropathy, and myelitis in adults and children.
Treatment of the Zika Virus Infection
The bad news, at least as of 2023, is that there are no known vaccines or medical treatments effective against the Zika virus infection. There are glimmers of hope, though, in that there are natural remedies that have shown promise in at least tamping down the effects of the infection:
- Vitamin D. It has been shown in some research to show antimicrobial and proinflammatory properties that diminish Zika virus infections in macrophages (a type of small red blood cells).
- Zinc. Well, how about that?! Zinc gets some play on both parts of this blog. That’s because zinc can cut impede viral replication in viral infections and at the same time bolster our immune systems.
- Vitamin C. Its immune-enhancing characteristic is already legendary, making Vitamin C a prime candidate to be able to push back against Zika.
As always, when it comes to trying out new natural remedies, like those described above, you are strongly advised to first discuss your planned usage with your physician or other health-care professional.