Providing your body with the best nutrition is key to maintaining optimal health. One essential trace mineral is zinc and can provide your body with an abundance of health benefits.
Especially for athletes, zinc can help to promote sports endurance and help to protect your body. Below we’ll discuss everything you need to know about zinc, from why we need zinc in our diet to the many health benefits of zinc for athletes.
What is Zinc?
Zinc is a trace mineral that our body needs in order to function normally. We only need a small amount of zinc, but it still plays an important role in a range of chemical reactions in the body.
Our body can’t produce zinc on its own, meaning that we need to ensure we’re getting enough zinc through our diet or by taking zinc supplements.
Why Do We Need Zinc?
As our body cannot produce zinc, we need to boost our levels by eating zinc rich foods or by taking supplements.
Without this essential mineral, we may be at risk of developing a zinc deficiency, which can affect our health. Some signs of zinc deficiency include:
- A weakened immune system
- Difficulty concentrating
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Abnormal taste and/or smell
However, prioritizing your zinc levels can help keep these symptoms at bay and support your body as an athlete.
Health Benefits of Zinc for Athletes
As an athlete, it’s important to maintain your zinc levels to ensure optimal health and to support your body through your training and workouts. Discover the top three benefits of zinc below:
1. Supports Immune System
Zinc plays an important role in our immune system and works to maintain its normal functions. Having a strong immune system as an athlete is crucial, as it helps to prevent your training schedule being disrupted due to illness. Plus, as strenuous exercise can also impact your immune function in the short-term, it's even more important for athletes to maintain zinc levels.
2. May Promote Healing
With most athletes, inflammation is common – especially after a strenuous workout or athletic competition. By maintaining adequate zinc levels in your body, you can benefit from its anti-inflammatory properties, which may help to ease any inflammation you’ve encountered during a workout.
3. Aids Metabolism
When we eat, zinc helps to process vital nutrients and turn it into energy, which can help to fuel your workout and recovery.
How to Incorporate Zinc Into Your Routine
There are many foods rich in zinc that you can include in your diet or nutrition plan. From dark leafy greens to red meat, we’ve compiled a list of some zinc rich foods to incorporate into your routine:
- Shellfish
- Nuts
- Lentils, chickpeas and beans
- Spinach
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Red meat
- Poultry
Some people may wish to consider taking zinc supplements, like Klean Zinc Tablets.
Available as a tasty, orange-flavored chewable tablet, these zinc supplements are designed to support your immune function, as well as a wide range of physiological functions to help athletes continue performing at their peak, day-in and day-out.‡
They are also NSF Certified for Sport®, meaning they’re tested and trusted for athletic use, containing no banned substances.
Learn more about the best vitamins for athletes here:
What Are the Best Multivitamins for Athletes?
Discover what vitamins and minerals are needed to support your athletic lifestyle ‡
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