National Center for Biotechnology Information<\/a>, a respected body in the United States that publishes validated scientific research.<\/p>\nPhytate, along with various types of fibre and different proteins all have an impact on how we can absorb zinc. As we have said in various pieces, the exact process by which this works is complicated and beyond the scope of this article, but there seems little doubt that many of the best vegan zinc foods aren\u2019t quite as good as they might otherwise seem because the presence of phytate. That said, many proteins boost absorption and so nuts, tofu and seeds remain excellent sources of zinc.<\/p>\n
That is not to say that the various cereals and grains are not also good additions to a vegan diet, nor that they don\u2019t contribute to the body\u2019s zinc needs. However, some nutrition experts argue that those obtaining their zinc solely from vegan sources should try to consume up to twice as much zinc as is otherwise recommended in order to offset this reduced absorption.<\/p>\n
Why Do We Need Zinc?<\/h2>\n
Zinc is a key component of our bones, with around a third of the body\u2019s zinc found there. It is vital in helping wounds heal and also helps the body process fat, protein and carbohydrates. It is closely associated with the functioning of a wide range of enzymes and is needed for the body to make new cells. It plays a key role in the workings of our immune system with various studies suggesting it can help reduce susceptibility to the common cold. It also fulfils many jobs in our metabolic system.<\/p>\n
A deficiency of zinc, the second most abundant metal in the human body after iron, can lead to diarrhoea, poor skin and hair, including hair loss, the slow healing of wounds and reduced cognitive functionality. Moreover, because of its impact on the immune system it can lead to various infections, including those of the respiratory system, and even pneumonia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2347,"parent":444,"menu_order":0,"template":"","acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/health\/499"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/health"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/health"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/health\/444"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}