Zinc: the Intelligence Mineral

Is your memory foggy? Are you forgetting important information? For instance, the paragraph you just read? It's not you, it's the zinc. You may have a zinc deficiency. Understand the importance of zinc, learn how to tell if you're deficient and learn how to get zinc without going to the doctor, here.

We talk a lot about vitamins and macrominerals such as calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and sulphur, but we shouldn't forget about the trace minerals! Trace minerals are an essential part of life. Many of the chemical reactions in our bodies are dependent on the presence of important trace minerals, such as zinc.

"I think, therefore I am." -Descartes

Brain Function: A series of studies from the University of Toronto, MITT and Duke University indicate that zinc is needed for the communication of neurons in the brain. This communication affects our memory and how we learn, so having a zinc deficiency means that our brains are not able to work most efficiently and you, therefore, are not working at your optimal best, which, according to Descartes, can put a real damper on your existence... However, not to worry! Zinc has been shown to improve concentration, cognition and memory in older adults. Zinc is even starting to be recognized as being an important factor in curing alzheimer's disease.

Immune Function: Zinc is also needed by the immune system to fight off illness and to recover from injury. Stress during finals is known to leave your body susceptible to contracting colds and flus. Considering professors probably won't be cancelling final exams any time soon in consideration of student health, fight back with zinc and finish the semester healthy.

Protein Synthesis: Your body's ability to digest protein and regulate blood sugar levels is dependent on zinc. It has been said that proteins are the building blocks of the body. Our brains, hearts and other organs in the body are made up of proteins. Protein also helps regulate blood sugar levels, which protects against the physical and emotional effects of stress on the body.

How to Tell if You're Deficient

Aside from the symptoms listed above, you can also tell by your nails. If you have white spots on your fingernails, it's a sign that you have a zinc deficiency. It may look like this:

I used to have a steady supply of white flecks on my finger nails until I started incorporating more zinc into my diet. Now, my nails are clear! It took about 3-4 months to build up proper zinc levels in my body. 

"Why then the world's mine oyster / Which I with sword will open." - Shakespeare from The Merry Wives of Windsor

If you're in college, chances are you are young and have your whole life ahead of you. It's definitely not the time to be dealing with memory loss. That's for old people, right? Wrong! The soil is being depleted of many of its nutrients, which means that there are less nutrients available in the foods we eat. In addition, phytic acid in grains is proven to deplete the body of essential minerals in the small intestine.

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of zinc is roughly 10-15 mg per day. The best way to eliminate the chances of zinc toxicity is to get your zinc in a whole food form. Here are the best food sources (amounts are according to the USDA):

Food	MG per 100 MG
Oysters, wild and raw	39.30
Pumpkin seeds	10.30
Beef, cooked	9.73
Cashews, roasted	7.67
Alaskan crab, wild and cooked	7.62
Lamb, cooked	4.67
Lobster, cooked	4.05
Oats *must be sprouted	3.97
Chicken, cooked, dark meat	2.40
Yogurt, Greek, plain	0.52

In order for the world to be your oyster, you must first eat your oysters. Try incorporating more foods that are high in zinc into your diet and share how your mental clarity improves, below. Besides, a little extra brainpower never hurt anyone. Happy studying!