Can’t sleep? Getting sick too often? Having an acne break out again? If so, then you might have a zinc deficiency. Not enough zinc in your body can lead to a number of problems. From a weaker immune system to even causing imbalances to the levels of hormones produced and regulated in your body. So what are the warning signs you should watch out for? Here are seven reasons why you should boost your zinc intake.

You’re getting sick way too often

For your immune system to work optimally, you need just the right amount of zinc. So if you’re finding yourself with a cold or infection right after you just had one, then you may not have enough zinc in your body.

Bad skin

Have you been breaking out a lot lately? Many studies suggest that if you’re suffering from conditions like acne or other skin problems this could indicate that you may have a zinc deficiency. This is because 6% of the zinc contained in our bodies is stored in our skin.

Hair loss

Losing hair could also be a sign of a zinc deficiency. This could be due to low levels of thyroid hormones being produced in your body meaning zinc is not properly being absorbed into your system.

Constantly upset stomach

Eating zinc-rich food have been proven to tighten your gut wall, which can protect you from digestive problems like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

You’re having trouble sleeping

Do you feel like you’ve been tossing and turning all night without getting a wink of sleep? Zinc actually plays a big part in producing and maintaining melatonin in your body. What’s melatonin you ask? Well it’s the hormone involved in helping you sleep and wake up. Studies have shown that taking the right amounts of zinc can help improve the quality of your sleep.

Fertility and pregnancy problems

While not having enough zinc in your body doesn’t directly lead to infertility, it still plays an important role in regulating your reproductive system. For men, zinc is needed to help testicular development as well as maintain sperm motility. For women, zinc deficiencies have been linked to pregnancy problems such as premature births and low birth weight.

Increased chances of Alzheimer’s

This degenerative disease is common among elderly people in more developed countries. According to research, zinc is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies found in elderly people and can possibly suggest normal levels of zinc can protect you against cognitive decline.
While correlation does not exactly mean causation it’s still something to think about.

Most likely to suffer zinc deficiencies:

While not eating enough zinc-rich food can cause these problems, there are some people who are more likely to suffer from these symptoms:

• Elderly people
• Pregnant women
• Those who consume a lot of alcohol
• Dieters
• Vegetarians and vegans

So what can you do to reduce these problems? Diets rich in zinc like oysters, beef, lamb, chicken, peanuts, legumes or oats goes a long way in avoiding these symptoms down the line.