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Zinc: An Important Mineral for Children and Adults
Most people aren't aware of the importance of zinc in their
diet. Zinc deficiency can
contribute to acne, fatigue, growth impairment, slow wound healing,
delayed sexual
maturation, hair loss, high cholesterol, and many other health
problems.
Zinc deficiency can also impair the body's ability to fight
infection. In children,
this can greatly increase the risk of suffering from two of the
more common infectious
childhood diseases: pneumonia and diarrhea. But there may be
a solution, and it could
be as easy as making sure you and your children get enough zinc.
A study in the Journal of Pediatrics reviewed previous research
on the benefits of
zinc supplementation, finding 10 trials worthy of analysis. In
seven studies, zinc
supplementation was provided at 1-2 times the recommended daily
allowance (RDA), 5-7
times per week. In the remaining three studies, zinc supplementation
amounted to 2-4
times the RDA daily for two weeks.
Zinc supplementation reduced the risk of developing diarrhea
and pneumonia in both
sets of trials. The authors note that these results emphasize
the importance of adequate
daily zinc intake, and add that their findings are especially
significant to developing
countries where zinc deficiency is common (and where diarrhea
and pneumonia represent
the two leading causes of death).
Good sources of zinc include fish, egg yolks, lima beans,
meats, pecans, poultry, soybeans
and whole grains. Your chiropractor can evaluate the nutritional
needs of you and your
children and help ensure that your family gets the vitamins and
minerals necessary
to stay healthy and fight disease.
Bhutta ZA, Black RE, Brown KH, et al. Prevention of diarrhea
and pneumonia by zinc
supplementation in children in developing countries: pooled analysis
of randomized
controlled trials. Journal of Pediatrics 1999: Vol. 135, pp689-97.
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