The trace mineral zinc plays a vital role in supporting bone health and many other functions within the body. This Foundation Supplement flows through nearly every part of the body, from the brain and kidneys to muscles and bones.

Zinc supports the function of hundreds of enzymes needed for biological functions, such as the conversion of CO2 in the lungs and protein digestion. It also performs a leading role in DNA transcription and the activation of signaling pathways.

When it comes to bone health, besides stimulating bone formation and mineralization, zinc protects in unexpected ways. By warding off depression, taste disorders, and vision decline, zinc gives your body the support it needs to maintain excellent bone health.

And those three unique ways in which zinc improves your bone health are the topic of today’s article.

Zinc Wards Off Depression And Protects Nerve Cells

Revealing scientific studies have linked depression with poor bone health, citing a decrease in bone mineral density and an increase in fracture risk.¹ Minor to severe depression tends to set off a constant cascade of organic chemicals, including noradrenaline, through the sympathetic nervous system.

Many people with depression show low levels of zinc, and as symptoms worsen, zinc levels tend to plummet even more. But fortunately, depression can improve with a daily dose of zinc.

Zinc increases the production of a protein for the nerve synapses in the brain called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).² This compound is instrumental in helping nerve cells recover and repair damage, which aids to ward off depression by keeping the essential synapses active and healthy.

Synopsis

Depression releases substances that contribute to bone density losses and increase the risk of fractures. Zinc helps by increasing the production of a compound that stimulates healthy nerve cell activity and reduces levels of harmful substances.

Zinc Prevents Taste Disorders For Optimized Nutrient Intake

Your ability to properly taste your food and the overall health of your bones are interlinked – and it all comes back to zinc. Inadequate zinc levels in the body can lead to taste disorders that often result in worsened nutrient deficiencies.3 The health of your bones depends on adequate intake of nutrients, such as Vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium – to name a few. Without a healthy diet, your bones face increased risks of density losses, fractures, and other potentially painful or debilitating conditions.

Take zinc on a daily basis to reap the benefits of all its important biological processes, including the prevention of taste disorders. A diet rich in zinc-containing foods and proper supplementation, can help increase your appetite, resolve taste disorders and ensure you receive enough of the other nutrients you need for bone health.⁴

Synopsis

Taste disorders can decrease your ability to consume a healthy daily diet rich in Foundation Foods for the protection of your bone health. Zinc has the power to prevent and reverse taste disorder symptoms and improve your appetite, ensuring the intake of sufficient bone-building and health-promoting nutrients.

Helps Preserve Good Vision for Better Fall Protection

A reduction in your ability to see clearly can markedly increase your risk of falls. Studies have linked poor vision to balance difficulties, especially when it comes to central and peripheral vision impairment. These types of vision loss increase the risk of falls by threefold, posing a serious threat to the health of your bones.⁵

Zinc helps to protect your eyesight and your bones when adequate levels are acquired through a healthy daily diet and proper supplementation.⁶ This trace element improves cell metabolism to preserve the function of your eyes and your eyesight as a whole. Zinc also helps slow the progression of conditions that cause vision to decline and even reduce the loss of visual acuity by a large margin.

Synopsis

Vision decline can dramatically increase the risk of falls, which pose a threat to your bones and mobility. Adequate zinc intake improves cell metabolism and slows the progression of conditions that could decrease your visual acuity.

Daily Intake Recommendations For Zinc

A steady diet of Foundation Foods and supplementing zinc will keep it at healthy levels. Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, cashews, spinach, and broccoli, are just a few examples of Foundation Foods that contain high levels of zinc.

The RDA for zinc is 11 mg for men and 8 mg for females a day. To maintain adequate levels of this important trace mineral, at the Save Institute we recommend daily supplementation with 25 mg a day of zinc orotate.

Synopsis

A diet rich in Foundation Foods and zinc orotate supplementation (25 mg daily) will help you keep your zinc levels within the desirable range.

Knowledge Is Power!

With your bone health dependent on so many factors, staying up-to-date on the newest developments can help you build better bones. Your newfound knowledge about zinc’s lesser-known roles in support of bone health, for example, can assist you in making healthier dietary decisions. So, stay tuned to keep learning about natural ways to improve the health of your bones.

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References:

¹ Pizza G. et. al. “Depression As A Risk Factor For Osteoporosis.” Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Oct; 20(8): 367–373. Web: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2764354/

² Solati Z. et. al. “Zinc monotherapy increases serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and decreases depressive symptoms in overweight or obese subjects: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.” Nutr Neurosci. 2015 May;18(4):162-8. Web: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24621065

³ Pisano M., Hilas O. “Zinc and Taste Disturbances in Older Adults: A Review of the Literature.” Consult Pharm. 2016 May;31(5):267-70. Web: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27178656

⁴ Yagi T. et. al. “The role of zinc in the treatment of taste disorders.” Recent Pat Food Nutr Agric. 2013 Apr;5(1):44-51. Web: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23305423

⁵ Brundle C. et. al. “The causes of falls: views of older people with visual impairment.” Health Expectations. 2015 Dec; 18(6):2021-2031. Web: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/hex.12355

⁶ Rasmussen H. et. al. “Nutrients for the aging eye.” Clin Interv Aging. 2013; 8: 741–748. Web: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693724/