Zinc helps our immune system and heightens our metabolism function. Zinc is another nutrient found in our body, and it is also important when you have a wound as it helps in making wounds heal fast, and it helps in your sense of taste and smell.

Best Zinc Supplements in Comparison

What is Zinc Supplement?

We consider zinc the second most abundant trace mineral in our body after iron. It can enhance your immune system, help in stabilizing blood sugar levels plus keep eyes, skin, and heart in the best of health.
The best source of zinc, include Legumes such as lentils and beans or chickpeas. Meat is also another source of zinc, most especially red meat like beef meat, pork, and lamb meat.

Shellfish is also an excellent source of zinc, it has low calories, and it is healthy. Some samples include oysters, crabs, shrimp, and mussels.
Seeds can be added to your diet so you can increase your zinc intake seeds, including hemp, flax, squash seeds, and pumpkin seeds.
Nuts are another sample of food where you can get your zinc source, e.g. Cashew, almonds, peanuts, pine nuts.
Other sources include eggs, dairy, whole grains, dark chocolate.
If you have low zinc in your body and you cannot get your zinc supply from food, or you get little from it, you may need a zinc supplement to complete your zinc intake.

Zinc Supplement and how they are used?

Zinc is usually prescribed if there is a low level of zinc in your body and these may show in loss of appetite, impaired immune function, hair loss, impotence, growth retardation, skin lesions, weight loss, delayed wound healing, taste peculiarities, mental lethargy.
Zinc supplements may be prescribed once there is confirmed zinc deficiency in the body.

Usually taken at least 1 hour before meals or even 2 hours before eating. But some get upset stomach so they cannot take zinc supplement with an empty stomach, so they must take the zinc supplement with a meal.

Pros

Cons

What types of Zinc Supplements are there?

Zinc Gluconate

A more common form of OTC zinc supplements. Often used to help remedy cough and cold. They usually include zinc gluconate in nasal sprays, and lozenges, and cold relief medicine.

Zinc Acetate

Often added to lozenges, and reduces symptoms of cold and cough and helps in immediate recovery.

Zinc Citrate

This type of zinc supplement gets absorbed faster and is well-absorbed by the body. It has a better taste compared to other types, that have a bitter taste quality.

Zinc Orotate

Another common type of zinc supplement in the market.

Zinc Sulfate

Zinc Picolinate

Well-absorbed by the body compared to zinc citrate and zinc gluconate.

This is what we check in Zinc Supplement Reviews

Zinc supplements are commonly sold in the market under different manufacturers and have different price ranges. Here we also focused on the material used, the pricing of this product, its longevity, and if there is a cleaning needed on the product mentioned.

Materials

Components used in forming zinc supplements include several forms of zinc, including a percentage of zinc gluconate, zinc sulfate, elemental zinc, and zinc acetate.
They make these supplements in capsule form, tablet, or lozenges.

Longevity

The product also has its expiration and can last for years when stored correctly. Sometimes the potency of these supplements may lessen as it is just collecting dust in your medicine cabinet, so it is best to use it as prescribed and don’t let it get exposed to sunlight for longevity.

Price

Some serving sizes of zinc supplement cost $0.25 per serving, some cost up to $0.50, and other brands cost $0.50 up per serving size.

Cleaning

There is not much cleaning required for this product.

Buying the best Zinc Supplements

Although various types of zinc supplements can be found in the market, also note some consideration when you have to buy it in-store or online.

Instore

• When you buy this product in the store, you can see a distinct quality of the supplements. You can check the ingredients yourself, as they write it at the back of every bottle of the supplement.
• Most of these supplements are made by reputable companies, and prices may vary, so you should compare and see which brand you can afford.
• There are also brands of zinc supplements that may be too expensive, but have the same effectiveness as the lower-priced brands.
• They test some brands for their purity and potency, so also make sure you have read about the different manufacturers of this product to have some knowledge about this product.
• We know most branded zinc supplements to remove banned substances from their products, and this should also be your focus. Buy the supplement that has the highest in safety.
• Pick a brand that does not use its products on animals.
• Check on the accuracy, quality, and purity of the products and pick the one that is affordable as well.
• Check and review the manufacturing and expiration date, make sure you are buying newly delivered products.
• There are also zinc supplements that are in liquid form for those who have difficulty in swallowing, this can be your option if you are not keen on getting the tablet or capsule form.
• There are forms of zinc supplements that are free of major allergens, so make sure that you are picking this brand if you have some allergic reaction to some supplements or vitamins.

Online

• Buying supplements, vitamins, or medicine online is now made possible and easy. Some are just ordering online with a few clicks, and they can deliver it to you in days.
• Review the different brands that carry zinc supplements and compare their contents so you can pick the best one for you.
• Make a list of what you want from your product, and what you don’t like to be included and research.
• Some zinc supplements maybe adding some ingredients that may not be suitable for you, such as soy, dairy, egg, shellfish, and peanuts. You should also do your homework to know which brand is more suitable.
• Read reviews online about the product you are planning to buy, this will help you understand more about the product, and you will learn more of its effectiveness from people who will give it an excellent review – or bad.
• Choose the most reputable seller from whom you will purchase the product, and you may prepare your questions that you may ask from the said store.
• Chat with the seller, and you may also discuss prices, how many you are going to buy, and what discount they can give you.
• What are the delivery options? Ask about the return policy just in case there should be a problem with the product delivered to you.

FAQ about the Best Zinc Supplements

What are the best zinc supplements that can be purchased nowadays?

Zinc Picolinate by Thorne: Made by a well-known company with a dedicated scientist and research specialist. They follow a high standard in the manufacture of different nutrition supplements.
Products are NSF Certified for Sport, which means the product is safe from substances that are banned by major athletic organizations.

Chelated Zinc by Now Foods: Zinc supplement that uses a chelating agent in its production, which helps it get absorbed easily by the body.
Quality is assured of accuracy, and their products are also of the highest quality.

Zinc Chelate Tablets by Nature’s Way: Gluten-Free and manufactured by one of the most trusted companies in the vitamins and supplement industry.

Vitamin Code Raw Zinc by Garden of Life: Best for vegan because it does not use any animal-derived ingredients. There are no milk, gelatin, lipase, Caprylic acid, or pork derived products included in the making of this product.

Zinc Gold by Nutrigold: The organic type of zinc supplement, this product is derived from an organic sprouted blend, which may be more ideal for your body. Non-GMO and vegan certified.

What is the ideal limit for the daily intake of zinc supplements?

It is best not to exceed the daily intake of 40mg daily unless advised by the doctor.

What is the adverse effect of taking too much zinc supplement?

Decreased immune system function, reduced HDL or the good cholesterol, lower copper and iron levels. There is also vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and headache.

Who is highly at risk for zinc deficiency?

Those who are vegetarians may not have enough source of zinc since meat is a significant source of zinc, especially red meat.
Then there are the pregnant women and those who are lactating, they may have insufficient zinc in their body since the fetus is more likely to take their zinc requirements from their mother. It is the same with mothers who are lactating. They may need some supplements to increase their zinc source.

People who are alcoholics have low zinc absorption because of ethanol consumption.
Those who have the gastrointestinal disease may not have the required zinc in their body. Some diseases that can lessen zinc absorption, include chronic liver disease, sickle cell disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.

What diet should I follow to increase zinc intake?

You may add nuts, meat, seafood, dairy, legumes, and seeds.

Which are samples of medication has a negative interaction with zinc supplement?

1. Penicillamine and its absorption can be reduced when it reacts with a zinc supplement.
2. Diuretics can deplete the zinc in the body.
3. Antibiotics are another medicine that can interact badly with zinc in the gastrointestinal tract. They may inhibit the body from absorbing both.

Conclusion

It is not ideal to self-prescribe cause you may do more harm to yourself than good plus it is dangerous to just prescribe yourself any zinc supplement most especially if you are taking other medications or you have other diseases that you need to be mindful of.

Links:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-foods-high-in-zinc
• https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-Consumer/