As Covid-19 virus situation starts to flatten and business start to open backup. It’s important to keep your body in top health.
Since the virus came out there have been hundreds of reports about what foods and supplements you should take. One report comes to mind, is Zinc. The problem with the report was that it didn’t mention that you should check with your doctor before taking large amounts of Zinc.
The short answer is that Zinc is considered an essential nutrient. An essential nutrient is a nutrient that’s required by the body.
Zinc is classified as Micronutrients. These are the vitamins and minerals your body needs. These vitamins can help produce energy, help your immune system and effect blood clotting to name a few things they affect.
Zinc needs to be balanced in your body. If you take too much Zinc you might experience vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea and headaches to name a few. Once of the more important things to note are your copper levels.
Zinc and copper are in a never ending battle for absorption in your small intestine. If you take too much Zinc you may end up with copper deficiency. This is caused because Zinc one the battle and limited the amount of copper that can be absorbed.
There are also issues if you don’t have enough Zinc in your body. Having a Zinc deficiency can cause diarrhea, eye issues, skin sores and even hair loss.
Zinc is required for numerous processes in your body (1):
Zinc is present in every cell of your body. Next to Iron, Zinc is the most abundant trace mineral in your body. It’s been well known through a number of studies that Zinc helps the immune system. Zinc Gluconate lozenges for treating the common cold.
Can Zinc help with Covid-19? Currently there’s “no consistently effective therapy for the common cold.” In this study their conclusion was that “Zinc gluconate in the form and dosage studied significantly reduced the duration of symptoms of the common cold. “(2)
Per this study, published in 1996, should that “1,781 participants across all age groups found that zinc – particularly in lozenge or syrup form – “inhibits replication of the virus” that cause the common cold and shortens average duration of the common cold when taken within 24 hours”. (3)
We are not doctors nor suggest taking anything such as Zinc without speaking with your doctor first. Based on the information out there, Zinc may be a good path in helping reduce the duration of Covid-19. We can however help answer questions you might have about your Medicare Advantage plan and COVID-19. Contact Us today!
