Zinc is another one of the important ingredients in our Ocu-Plus Formula. You may be thinking that zinc would make a terrible ingredient in anything that isn’t a battery. You’d be almost right.
Zinc, as shown by this pie chart, is not often used or associated with agriculture. Zinc’s biggest use is in rubber products. But here’s the catch: this is a very versatile chemical element. When it isn’t being used to power our TV remotes or portable speakers, zinc is playing a very important role in the human body.
What is Zinc?
Without turning this into your high school science class, zinc put simply, is a chemical element similar to magnesium. Zinc is the 24th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. In its usable form, zinc is mostly found in Australia, various places in Asia, and right here in the United States.
Zinc has a long and often disputed history. A German chemist, Andreas Sigismund Marggraf is credited with being the first to discover zinc in its pure metallic form in 1746. However, he was not the first to carry out experiments to find pure metallic zinc, he was the first to theorize and describe the process of the experiments.
Zinc has been around since the birth of the Earth. Our archaic ancestors were very crafty and even if they didn’t know it, they used zinc in a number of ways.
Going all the way back to the ancient civilizations of Babylonia and Assyria (around 3000 BCE), zinc had been used in bronze creations from the era. Zinc salts were also often used for medical purposes in Palestine dating from 1400-1000 BCE.
When copper had been introduced and added to zinc, jewelry began to be made using these two elements in 500 BCE. Of course it would be centuries before science would identify zinc. The first known use of the word zinc was by an alchemist, Paracelsus, sometime in the 1500s.
Today, with modern science we know that zinc is much more useful. Because it bonds well with other metals, zinc is often applied in small layers to iron and steel to prevent rusting.
Zinc is also used quite a bit in manufactured goods like rubber, paint, cosmetics, ink, plastic, batteries, and other electrical equipment.
Of course, we have yet to even mention the best use of zinc: health. We have very small amounts of zinc in our body that are called essential trace amounts. Without these trace amounts (otherwise known as a zinc deficiency) you risk hair loss, loss in immunity functions (for example: slow wound healing time), and stunted growth especially in children.
Today scientists have carried out studies that suggest that zinc can help prevent cancer, diabetes, heart diseases and conditions, balance hormones, and increases fertility.
Zinc for Your Vision
We now know that zinc is quite an amazing and versatile element, not only in terms of manufactured goods but also in terms of keeping us healthy. But what does it do for our vision?
The most zinc found in our bodies is found in the eyes, which is why it is such an important element for our eye health. Zinc helps to convert beta carotene from highly pigments foods like carrots and spinach into usable vitamin A for our eyes. The vitamin A can then create a pigment called melanin which protects the macula and the retina.
With the right amount of zinc in the eyes, night vision can be improved especially in those suffering from glaucoma. The antioxidant properties in zinc can also help conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of vision loss in the elderly.
Zinc is essential to keeping our retina and macula in good health and working properly. Though it’s only needed in trace amounts, they’re incredibly important trace amounts.
Where to Find Zinc
You don’t need to dig to the center of the Earth to find zinc. It can be found in foods, animals, metals and mines. Most zinc is mined in the aforementioned countries and continents.
But don’t worry; you don’t need to go mining to get your fix of zinc. Zinc supplements are a great and easy way to get your daily recommended zinc amount. Unlike some other supplements we’ve covered in this special series of articles, zinc is not a bestseller but this isn’t because it doesn’t work.
Zinc deficiencies are very rare in the U.S. So rare, in fact that you’d really need to want to develop a deficiency and work hard to get it. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. Supplements are often used in only treating deficiencies when they do happen. Otherwise, you can get your required amount of zinc from everyday foods.
If you are thinking of taking supplements it is incredibly important to know the correct dosage for you as an individual. The best way to go about this is to do some research and talk to your doctor about finding the right dosage.
Zinc is also an ingredient found in our Ocu-Plus Formula. We have incorporated it into an easy supplement that comes with so many benefits from other essential vitamins and nutrients for your eyes.
Zinc in Foods
A supplement may not be the right solution for you and that’s just fine! Zinc is found in a ton of delicious foods. By making sure you incorporate some of these foods into your weekly meals, you’ll likely get the perfect amount of zinc for your eyes.
Here are some of our favorite zinc packed foods:
- Oysters
- Lean beef (cooked)
- Roasted pumpkin and squash seeds
- Cashews
- Chicken
- Pork
- Coco powder and dark chocolate
And the list goes on and on! These are common foods, which is the reason why zinc deficiencies are so rare.
Zinc is an important component in keeping your vision healthy and spry. Don’t skip out on the above foods and talk to your doctor if you feel that you may have a zinc deficiency.