Suara.com – During self-isolation, Covid-19 patients with mild or no symptoms are advised to take a number of vitamins and minerals to help the healing process. The Ministry of Health recommends people with mild and asymptomatic Covid-19 to consume vitamins C, D, E, and zinc.
Facts about vitamins C, D, and E, you must have often heard. But, do you know the facts about zinc or zinc? Reporting from Healthline, here are 4 facts about zinc that you may not know.
1. Benefits of Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral that the body uses in many ways. Zinc is required for the activity of more than 300 enzymes that help with metabolism, digestion, nerve function, and many other processes. In addition, it is important for the development and function of immune cells.
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Research shows that zinc has many health benefits such as boosting the immune system, accelerating wound healing, reducing the risk of age-related diseases, reducing inflammation, and others.
In fact, your skin stores a relatively high amount of about 5 percent of the body’s zinc content. While zinc deficiency can slow wound healing, supplementation with zinc can speed recovery in people with wounds.
Zinc is also needed for your sense of taste and smell. Because one of the enzymes essential for proper taste and smell depends on this nutrient, zinc deficiency can reduce the ability to taste or smell.
2. Symptoms of zinc deficiency
Although severe zinc deficiency is rare, it can occur in people with rare genetic mutations, nursing infants whose mothers don’t have enough zinc, people with alcoholism, and anyone taking certain immune-suppressing medications.
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Symptoms of severe zinc deficiency include impaired growth and development, delayed sexual maturation, skin rashes, chronic diarrhea, impaired wound healing, and behavioral problems.