Hair fall and periods problems? Are you also a victim of deficiency of this essential mineral?

How To Know If You Have Zinc Deficiency: Constant hair fall, irregular periods, suddenly increasing acne, women often consider stress, age or hormonal changes to be the cause of these problems. But experts say that a small mineral, zinc, may play an important role in these symptoms. Zinc performs many important functions in the body like maintaining hormonal balance, strengthening the immune system and repairing cells. Yet its deficiency often gets ignored, due to which we have to face problems.

What are the rules regarding this?

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, adult women need about 8 to 12 mg of zinc daily, but especially in vegetarian diet, it may not be available in sufficient quantity or its absorption may be less. According to the National Institutes of Health, zinc is essential for reproductive health, wound healing, DNA formation and the development of immune cells. Despite this, it is not given as much importance as iron or calcium.

What problem does its deficiency cause?

According to experts, zinc helps in balancing hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Due to its deficiency, ovulation can become irregular, PMS symptoms can increase and acne can also increase. Zinc is also linked to thyroid function, which affects energy levels and periods. This is the reason why fatigue and menstrual irregularities often appear together.

These should not be done either

Weak immunity can also be a sign of zinc deficiency. Frequent infections, delayed wound healing or frequent cold and cough indicate this. Problems like increased swelling in the body and unintentional weight loss may also arise. Some women are at higher risk such as menorrhagia, women suffering from PCOS, strict vegetarians or those who are under chronic stress. The need for zinc also increases during pregnancy. Phytates present in pulses and grains can reduce the absorption of zinc, hence soaking and cooking them is beneficial.

How to compensate for this deficiency?

Good sources of zinc include pumpkin seeds, gram, lentils, cashews, almonds, spinach, whole grains, eggs, curd, seafood and lean meat. Since the body does not store zinc for long, it is important to take it in balanced amounts daily. However, testing and expert advice is necessary before taking supplements, because taking zinc in excess can interfere with the absorption of copper and cause digestion problems. Sometimes better health does not come from any big change, but from filling a small deficiency which we have been ignoring for a long time.

Read this also- Bloating Vs Acidity: Acidity or Bloating? It is important to understand the difference, otherwise your neglect may prove costly.

Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, please consult your doctor or relevant specialist.

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