Who knew a metal was so important for healthy hair?
‘Member that one bit from The Simpsons where Bart’s class is watching an educational film about the importance of zinc? Y’know, without zinc there’s no batteries in cars, no rotary mechanisms in rotary phones and no- well, we don’t need to cover the third thing. Zinc is an important component in many home devices, but you know what the most important device that contains zinc is? You.
Zinc is one of the various nutrients that the human body can’t produce on its own, so you need to get it from the food you eat. A balanced diet requires about 11 milligrams of zinc per day for the average adult male, 8 for a female. Zinc, like the other major mineral in your body, iron, helps your blood to clot and close up injuries, as well as foster protein creation that keeps your DNA healthy. It has an additional duty, though: skin care. Your body needs zinc to maintain healthy skin, hair, and nails. Without zinc, your skin can be more easily damaged, your hair becomes frail and wispy, and your nails become thin and brittle. Basically, you turn into a witch. It’s not fun.
Much like iron, you can get a steady supply of zinc from eating red meat and poultry. If meat’s not your thing, though, there are plenty of other healthy sources of zinc. Seeds, for instance, can provide a hearty, tasty serving of zinc. There’s one more reason to cook up some pumpkin seeds for the fall season. Certain types of mushroom are known to be high in minerals, with one of the standouts being shiitake. If you’re a die-hard vegan, tofu can supplement your zinc needs along with your protein needs.
So remember to get your daily supply of zinc, if nothing else so you don’t end up looking like Anjelica Huston in The Witches.
