Zinc: 5 beneficial properties of a mineral

  The immune system is like a shield that protects our body from invading foreign organisms. However, it is not always able to fight off all attacking factors. It can be weakened by a poor diet, poor ecology or a lack of sufficient vitamins and minerals. Among these, zinc plays a critical role in supporting the immune system. You'd be surprised, but it's this mineral that our immune system needs especially badly.

Why is zinc so important for the immune system?

Zinc is the only substance that simultaneously affects all parts of the human immune system. It is an immunomodulator that increases the number and activity of immune cells. Let's understand in detail how zinc works:

1. Increases the production of γ-interferon. 

Interferons are proteins that are the body's first line of defense against infection by viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms2. If interferons are insufficient, the virus easily passes the defense they build and reaches its goal of infecting cells.

2. Turns off the "copy machine" of the virus in the cell. 

Once in the body, the virus behaves as cunningly as possible. It becomes paramount for it to spread throughout the body and take over. It penetrates the cell and turns it into a so-called "copying apparatus," which is designed to spread the "viral information" further. The infected cell produces several copies of itself, after which it dies. And so it happens with each one, as a result of which the virus spreads throughout the body. This is why the spread of the virus needs to be stopped in time, and this is what zinc does.

3. Protects lymphocytes from destruction. 

It is the lymphocytes that recognize enemy agents and send a signal to the T-cells that the body is under attack.

4. Enhances the function of the thymus (thymus gland),

 which is sometimes even called the "heart of the immune system." It is responsible for producing T-cells that recognize viruses and neutralize them. In this way, the body's immune system reacts immediately to potentially dangerous threats and eliminates them. Severe zinc deficiency causes atrophy of the thymus, causing the entire immune system to malfunction.

5. Turns on the signal in the viral cell to self-destruct. 

Zinc, like any other substance, is necessary for viruses to exist, but in certain amounts. If the level of the mineral in the virus cell exceeds the necessary level, the virus dies6.

As you can see, zinc's role in the immune system is immense. 

The body receives this mineral with food. However, the modern rhythm of life dictates its own conditions. For a complete diet modern man simply does not have enough time, so he often eats fast food, which can not replenish the necessary substances. On the other hand, vegetarianism and dieting are very fashionable today, which can also limit the intake of zinc in the body. Fortunately, today's modern pharmaceutical companies are producing supplements containing zinc. However, it is important to know which of the many forms of the mineral is best absorbed.