Protect your DNA with zinc
The first galvanized metal, dipped in molten zinc, was found in a collection of armor made in India in the 1680s. Today, we still use zinc to galvanize iron and steel; it keeps the metal strong and protects it from rusting. Now, new research reveals that dietary zinc has similar powers: It can protect the inside of your body from DNA damage.
In a recent study, participants ate a low-zinc diet for two weeks; then took in 6 mg of zinc daily for the next two weeks. Finally, for a final two weeks, they took in 10 mg a day. The researchers found that after this boost in zinc intake, people's bodies did a better job of repairing breaks in strands of their DNA. These breaks can lead to cancer, because when DNA can't repair itself, damaged cells can multiply.
That's just one reason to eat foods rich in zinc. The mineral also helps regulate the immune system; aids in brain cells' communication, improving learning and memory; and promotes wound healing by reducing oxidative stress.
Your best sources? Oysters deliver a whopping 74 mg for every 3-ounce serving. Half a cup of kidney beans offers 2.9 mg, as does half a cup of chickpeas (think hummus); an ounce of walnuts or almonds delivers about 1 mg. The recommended daily intake is 8 mg for women and 11 mg for men.
But forget supplements: The National Institutes of Health says that unless you're taking zinc for doctor-diagnosed medical reasons, don't take more than 40 mg. Too much triggers side effects such as digestive woes, and it interacts with meds like antibiotics and some arthritis drugs.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Read more http://cdn.kingfeatures.com/rss/feed/editorial/index.php?content=YouDocTips_20170209