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Ingredient Spotlight: Zinc

In this ingredient spotlight, Dr. Brain Greenberg explains the health benefits of Zinc and why it’s an essential mineral for immune health.

By Dr. Brian Greenberg

6 minute read

Last Updated September 30, 2022

Ingredient Spotlight: Zinc

1MD Nutrition’s immune health supplements feature proper dosages of zinc to provide optimal support for immune and respiratory health. Keep reading to discover why we included this essential mineral in both ImmunityMD® and BreatheMD™ formulations.

What Is Zinc?

Zinc is an essential nutrient that has many important roles in the body, supporting immune, metabolic, and digestive health. After iron, zinc is the second most abundant trace mineral in the body and can be found in every cell.

This mineral is essential because your body is unable to produce it naturally. Zinc can be obtained from food sources such as whole grains, seafood, meat, beans, nuts, pomegranate, or supplements. 

Health Benefits of Zinc

Despite supporting several systems in the body, zinc is most commonly associated with immune health. As part of the innate immune system, zinc plays a role as the first line of defense against environmental threats. It is involved in developing and maintaining the cells that serve as barriers to our organs. 

Zinc also supports the healthy function of the thymus and bone marrow, which are responsible for generating immune cells. Once immune cells are generated, zinc helps promote healthy cellular function, specifically macrophages, which are essential for proper immune system responses. 

Additionally, zinc promotes antioxidant activity to help reduce typical oxidative stress in the body. This can support respiratory tract health and promote the body’s natural ability to heal. It also supports the body’s ability to rejuvenate the complexion, making typical skin issues that do arise manageable.

As part of the adaptive immune system, which uses memories of previously encountered external or internal threats, zinc helps promote immune system responses, specifically T-cell activity, supporting the body’s ability to protect itself from occasional threats.

In addition to supporting immune and respiratory health, zinc can help promote overall health by:

♦ Supporting proper liver cell activity to aid the detoxification processes
♦ Helping reduce occasional oxidative damage to support healthy cell activity and aging
♦ Aiding in the stabilization of DNA for proper protein synthesis and gene expression
♦ Helping protect against environmental threats by promoting skin health
♦ Supporting enzyme function and enzymatic reactions

correct dosage of zinc

A Proper Dose of Zinc

The body cannot make zinc, so it has to be consumed through diet or supplementation. There are many supplements to choose from, but this does not mean they are equal. For optimal immune health support, you want to choose a zinc supplement that contains a proper daily dosage. 

The daily recommended value of zinc is 11 mg, and the daily upper tolerable limit is 40 mg. Most zinc supplements contain between 20 mg and 50 mg, but taking daily doses higher than 40 mg might interfere with the absorption of other essential nutrients like copper. 

Consistent use of lower doses of zinc has been clinically-studied to support immune system function, so 1MD Nutrition® chose 30 mg for the ImmunityMD® formula and 20 mg for BreatheMD™. This provides optimal support for immune and respiratory health while avoiding the risk of surpassing the daily upper limit of 40 mg.

Various forms of zinc, including zinc sulfate, zinc citrate, zinc acetate, and zinc ascorbate, can be found in supplements. ImmunityMD® includes zinc sulfate, a more bioavailable version of the mineral, while BreatheMD™ contains highly bioavailable zinc citrate and zinc ascorbate, a powerful combination of zinc and vitamin C. 

The proper dosages and bioavailable versions of zinc used in 1MD Nutrition’s immune health supplements deliver comprehensive immune, lung, and respiratory support and long-term immune health.

1MD Nutrition's BreatheMD and ImmunityMD

1MD Nutrition’s Immune Health Supplements

As an immunologist and allergist, I have spent almost 30 years helping patients of all ages support their respiratory and immune health. Through extensive reading of medical journals, I discovered mentions of the efficacy of probiotics for immune support. 

Countless hours of research led me to the perfect combination of probiotic strains and other specific naturally-derived ingredients. I decided to create a proprietary, naturally-sourced solution from the highest-quality ingredients, which brought me to partner with 1MD Nutrition®.

Together, we formulated ImmunityMD®, a comprehensive immune health solution unlike any other on the market. I chose two potent probiotic strains, L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus, to combine with L-lysine and zinc for optimal immune support, to aid the body’s ability to respond to common problems, and to promote lip, skin, and oral health.

I also recommend BreatheMD™ for lung and respiratory health support. In addition to a proper dosage of zinc, this formula includes the following:

African Geranium; a powerful botanical that promotes the body’s natural healing rate.

L-cysteine, which promotes glutathione production, is an important antioxidant enzyme that helps clean tissues, including lung tissue

♦ Vitamin E to support the production of T-cells, a broad class of immune cells responsible for identifying and taking out environmental threats.

Vitamin D3; an integral part of respiratory and immune health due to its ability to encourage the production of specific molecules responsible for healthy lung tissue and promote the function of immune cells

Chromium, an essential micronutrient that plays a significant role in promoting a strong immune response by supporting the increased production of immune cells

Marshmallow root, a lubricating compound that can help maintain the respiratory tract’s moisture levels

Zinc is an essential mineral for immune health, and 1MD Nutrition® ensures you get the zinc your body needs. I recommend adding ImmunityMD® to your daily routine to help maintain a strong, healthy immune system and BreatheMD™ to aid respiratory system performance.

Dr. Brian Greenberg

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Dr. Brian Greenberg is an immunologist, allergist, and pediatrician who received his medical degree from the University of Florida, and completed his residency and fellowship at UCLA. He has practiced medicine in Southern California for almost 25 years.