ZT
Zinc is an essential mineral required by the body for maintaining a sense of smell, keeping a healthy immune system, building proteins, triggering enzymes, and creating DNA. Zinc also helps the cells in your body communicate by functioning as a neurotransmitter. A deficiency in zinc can lead to stunted growth, diarrhea, impotence, hair loss, eye and skin lesions, impaired appetite, and depressed immunity. Conversely, consuming too much zinc can lead to nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and headaches in the short term, and can disrupt absorption of copper and iron in the long term. If you have a zinc deficiency, then animal foods are better sources of zinc than plant foods. The current daily value (DV) for Zinc is 15mg. Below is a list of the top ten foods highest in Zinc by common serving size, for more, see the list of high zinc foods by nutrient density, and the extended list of zinc rich foods.
#1: Seafood (Cooked Oysters)
Zinc in 100g | Per 3oz (85g) | Per 6 Oysters (42g) |
78.6mg (524% DV) | 66.8mg (445% DV) | 33.0mg (220% DV) |
#2: Beef and Lamb (Cooked Lean Beef Shortribs)
Zinc in 100g | 1 Rack of Ribs (315g) | 1 Lean Ribeye Fillet (129g) |
12.3mg (82% DV) | 38.7mg (258% DV) | 14.2mg (95% DV) |
#3: Wheat Germ (Toasted)
Zinc in 100g | Per Cup (113g) | Per Ounce (28g) |
16.7mg (111% DV) | 18.8mg (126% DV) | 4.7mg (31% DV) |
#4: Spinach
Zinc in 100g (Cooked) | Per Cup (Cooked - 180g) | 100g (Raw) |
0.8mg (5% DV) | 1.4mg (9% DV) | 0.5mg (4% DV) |
#5: Pumpkin and Squash Seeds
Zinc in 100g | Per Cup (64g) | Per Ounce (28g) |
10.3mg (69% DV) | 6.6mg (44% DV) | 2.9mg (19% DV) |
#6: Nuts (Cashews)
Zinc in 100g (Roasted) | Per Cup (137g) | Per Ounce (28g) |
5.6mg (37% DV) | 7.7mg (51% DV) | 1.6mg (10% DV) |
#7: Cocoa and Chocolate (Cocoa Powder)
Zinc in 100g | Per Cup (86g) | Per Tablespoon (5g) |
6.8mg (45% DV) | 5.9mg (39% DV) | 0.3mg (2% DV) |
#8: Pork & Chicken (Cooked Lean Pork Shoulder)
Zinc in 100g | Per Steak (147g) | Per 3oz (85g) |
5.0mg (33% DV) | 7.4mg (49% DV) | 4.3mg (28% DV) |
#9: Beans (Cooked Mung Beans)
Zinc in 100g | Per Cup (124g) | Per 3oz (85g) |
0.5mg (3% DV) | 0.6mg (4% DV) | 0.4mg (2.5% DV) |
#10: Mushrooms (Cooked White Mushrooms)
Zinc in 100g | Per Cup Pieces (156g) | Per Mushroom (12g) |
0.9mg (6% DV) | 1.4mg (9% DV) | 0.1mg (1% DV) |
http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/zinc.php