Zinc is essential for health

Perhaps read here first

Zinc: Called the intelligence mineral, zinc is required for mental development, for healthy reproductive organs (particularly the prostate gland), for protein synthesis and collagen formation. Zinc is also involved in the blood sugar control mechanism and thus protects against diabetes. Zinc is needed to maintain proper levels of vitamin E in the blood. Inability to taste or smell and loss of appetite are signs of zinc deficiency. High levels of phytic acid in cereal grains and legumes block zinc absorption. Zinc deficiency during pregnancy can cause birth defects. As oral contraceptives diminish zinc levels, it is important for women to wait at least six months after discontinuing the pill before becoming pregnant. Best sources include red meat, oysters, fish, nuts, seeds and ginger.

Not all minerals are beneficial. Lead, cadmium, mercury, aluminum and arsenic, while possibly needed in minute amounts, are poisons to the body in large quantities. These come from polluted air, water, soil and food; lead finds its way into the water supply through lead pipes. Sources of aluminum include processed soy products, aluminum cookware, refined table salt, deodorants and antacids. Baking powder can be another source of aluminum and should be avoided. Amalgam fillings are the principle source of toxic mercury in the system–linked to Alzheimer’s and a number of other disease conditions. Minerals like calcium and magnesium, and the antioxidants–vitamin A, carotenes, vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium–all protect against these toxins and help the body to eliminate them. Adequate silicon protects against aluminum.

It’s needed for the enzymes that regulate cell division, growth, wound healing, and proper functioning of the immune system.

Zinc is an essential co-factor in a variety of cellular processes including DNA synthesis, behavioral responses, reproduction, bone formation, growth and wound healing.
Zinc is a component of insulin and it plays a major role in the efficiency of most of the functions of the body.
Zinc is necessary for the free-radical quenching activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), a powerful antioxidant enzyme that breaks down the free-radical superoxide to form hydrogen peroxide.
Zinc is required for the proper function of T-lymphocytes.
The mineral also plays a role in acuity of taste and smell, and
Zinc is required for proper functioning of genetics, immunity, formation of red blood cells, organ, muscle and bone function, cell membrane stability, cell growth, division, differentiation and genetics.
Importantly, zinc is vital for the metabolism of vitamin A.

Zinc is highly necessary or gene expression and thus easy fertility and great reproductive outcomes, no miscarriages. See more here

Epidemiologic studies suggest that zinc deficiency may be associated with increased risk of cancer.[12] Zinc supplementation is associated with decreased oxidative stress and improved immune function, which may be among the possible mechanisms for its cancer preventive activity.

Mineral Deficiencies/Radiation Resistance

Radiation damages our bodies by breaking the chemical bonds in our cells. The amount of damage done depends not only on how much radiation we are exposed to but also very much on how mineral deficient we are.

Many have a condition called pyroluria. Various online questionnaires are available.

See more about that here. Basically it means B6 and zinc are not assimilated well, and many common problems are easily addressed simply by adding these into the diet in ways that they are highly absorbed – PLUS, avoiding below ..

Additional considerations for the pyroluric include the need for improving digestion and hydrochloric acid status (see chapter on digestion in a book, Primal Body-Primal Mind), avoidance of phytate-containing foods such as grains, legumes and soy, and the susceptibility to heavy metal toxicity from mercury, cadmium and copper. Where the restoration of zinc sufficiency is highly resistant one may need to pursue further testing to see if heavy metal toxicity is an issue.