14 Foods Sources of Zinc

When you think about being healthy, you may not even realize all of the nutrients that play a role. Chances are that trace minerals such as zinc do not cross your mind. However, zinc is essential for over a hundred enzymatic reactions that occur in the body. Consuming foods that contain zinc is important for your overall health. You should be eating small amounts of zinc each day to maintain your health.

Zinc is present in all bodily tissue and is needed for healthy cell division. Also, zinc is an antioxidant as it helps to slow the aging process and fights damage caused by free radicals. Zinc deficiency is becoming quite common throughout the world, and one of the reasons is because people are not eating enough foods that contain this important mineral. Here are 14 food sources of zinc that you should be adding to your weekly menus right away. 

1. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are great sources of zinc. A single cup of pumpkin seeds provides 6.6 mg of zinc, which is 44 percent of the recommended daily value. In addition to providing you with zinc, pumpkin seeds also can help promote your mental health, and they are good for your prostate health. Pumpkin seeds provide many nutrients.

This small seed is a great source of copper, Vitamin E, and many antioxidants. A half of a cup of pumpkin seeds contains 374 calories. The great thing about pumpkin seeds is that you can simply eat them raw. This is the best way to get the most nutrients from the seeds. If you prefer to bake the seeds, make sure that you bake them for under 20 minutes. If you cook them for any longer than this, they start to lose some of their nutritional value.