Zinc –
This mineral is an anti-inflammatory. You already know that excessive inflammation is no good for the skin, but zinc has been studied to help accelerate the renewal of skin cells when there’s a damaged cell. This is important for the look of the skin because outside influences like UV rays from the sun & pollution in the air can cause skin damage or irritation. Zinc also powers up the immune system’s T-Cells which fight off threats like bacteria or viruses that would try to hurt your skin. It has been studied to help fight acne & skin problems in general, helping them heal faster when there’s enough zinc available in the body.
Most plant-sourced zinc is difficult for your body to use. It’s abundant in red meat & fish, but what if you’re a vegetarian? It’s in eggs too, as well as some fortified kinds of milk & cereals. Pumpkin seeds, chia, sesame, lentils (beans are also seeds), cashews & quinoa all have plant-based zinc. Keep in mind that plant-based zinc is less bio-available than zinc in red meat, fish, shellfish, and shrimp, although the topic of soaking seeds is being researched to increase the bio-availability of zinc. Always ask a doctor if you should supplement (zinc vitamins are inexpensive & tiny) especially if you have a skin condition you’d like to fight.
