Zinc is generally associated with treating and preventing colds. A 2010 study titled "Zinc and Cardiovascular Disease," also illustrates that maintaining healthy zinc levels protects the heart and blood vessels, such as the arteries, from damage from cardiovascular disease. A 2006 study titled "Serum Zinc Level and Coronary Heart Disease Events in Patient with Type 2 Diabetes," revealed that low zinc levels may predispose diabetic and non-diabetic individuals to cardiovascular disease. Maintaining healthy zinc levels can protect your arteries and help prevent cardiovascular disease.
Step 1
Consult your physician before starting a zinc regimen. The therapeutic dosage for zinc is 30 to 60 mg per day for men and 30 to 45 mg per day. The RDA is significantly less at 11 mg per day for men, 8 mg per day for women, 11 mg per day for pregnant women and 12 mg per day for women who are breastfeeding. If you intend to take the therapeutic dose, you must do so with doctor supervision.
Step 2
Consume your zinc supplement alone, once per day, with a full glass of water or juice. Do not take zinc with an iron or calcium supplement.
Step 3
Stop taking the zinc immediately if you experience side effects such as dizziness, headaches or increased loss of muscle coordination in addition to hallucinations or alcohol intolerance.
Tips and Warnings
- Zinc is also available from food sources such as shellfish, red meat and poultry, and cheese. You can also find lesser amounts of zinc in beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Your body absorbs up to 40 percent of the zinc in food and animal sources are more readily absorbed than plant sources of zinc, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
- Avoid taking zinc supplements if you are taking the diuretic amiloride, which raises the amount of zinc in your blood. Zinc will also reduce the effectiveness of certain antibiotics, such as tetracycline, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen. Do not give zinc supplements to children without doctor supervision.
Things You'll Need
- Zinc supplements
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