The body doesnt produce or store Zinc which means it must be obtained from our diet or supplementationnbspNot surprisingly Zinc is becoming one of the most popular mineral supplements availableZinc plays a part in a huge number of body processesZinc is a multi-functional and vital mineral which is involved in hundreds of body processes including the following It contributes to thenbspmaintenance of healthy bones hair nails skin and vision It is involved in the health of our reproductive system and healthy fertility It helps maintain our immune system where it is used to help prevent the chance of infection It is required for the metabolism of Vitamin A It helps metabolise carbohydrates so they can be converted into energy It is involved in maintaining normal cognitive function It contributes to the protection of DNA proteins and lipids from oxidative damageOne fifth of the Zinc in our body is located in the skin where it helps in tissue repair and cell renewal Too little zinc can lead to hair loss skin problems diarrhoea and poor wound healingNatural food sources of ZincZinc is generally found in protein sources red meat poultry darker meat areas eggs and seafood Vegetarians will take Zinc from eggs cheese beans grains and nuts though Zinc is not as easily absorbed though non-animal sources Many modern food processing techniques leave natural grains stripped of much of their Zinc content which is one of the many reasons believed to have contributed to a rise in Zinc deficiency