Wound healing, skin and immune system - our body does not function properly without zinc. We will tell you which zinc-containing nuts, fruits and vegetables can be used to prevent zinc deficiency.
Zinc is an essential trace element for our body and fulfills important metabolic tasks. As a result, zinc not only affects the appearance of hair and skin, but also areas such as fertility, wound healing and even our immune system. It is all the more important to pay attention to this when it comes to nutrition.
Tip: The daily zinc requirement for women is around 7 mg and for men around 10 mg.
Fruits and Vegetables High in Zinc: Why is Zinc He althy?
Although zinc as a trace element only occurs in the body in amounts of around 2 to 4 g, it plays a central role in our metabolism: Zinc is particularly important for cell division, which is why it has a direct influence on the appearance of the skin and hair, but also supports wound healing.
The function of zinc in the immune system is particularly important: Zinc is essential for building up the immune system, as it is required for the development and activation of immune cells. With a zinc undersupply, we are prone to infections and colds because our immune system is weakened. Vegans and vegetarians in particular should pay attention to the selection of zinc-rich vegetables and fruits, since animal foods in particular are considered good sources of zinc.
Oversupply of zinc through food is almost impossible. You can therefore enjoy zinc-rich fruit and vegetables in large quantities without hesitation. With tablets, however, an overdose can occur, which is accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting. For this reason, taking zinc in tablet form should always be discussed with a doctor.
By the way: Some laboratory tests showed that zinc can slow down the multiplication of viruses in cell cultures. So far, however, no evidence of a curative effect in vivo (on the living organism) has been found.
Vegetables and fruits rich in zinc
If you pay attention to choosing the right types of fruit and vegetables, you can support your immune system. Surplus zinc is simply excreted, but some studies confirm that one third of all Germans have a zinc deficiency.
Although animal foods are generally considered to be particularly zinc-rich, there are also numerous types of fruit and vegetables that have a comparably high content of the trace element and are in no way inferior to animal products.
For comparison: Cheese products contain 3 to 4 mg zinc per 100 g, milk only small amounts of zinc - less than 1 mg/100 ml - and pork or beef meat between 2 and 5mg/100g. Fish and seafood rarely contain more than 2mg of zinc per 100g, with only oysters outperforming everything else with a whopping 22mg of zinc per 100g of meat.
Vegetables high in zinc
We have summarized five types of vegetables with a lot of zinc for you.
1. Soybeans (4.2mg per 100g)
Soybeans (Glycine max) are traded as a he althy food, especially because of their high protein content. But did you know that soybeans are also one of the most zinc-rich vegetables? A total of 4.2 mg of zinc are in 100 g of the dried beans, making the vegetable a perfect addition to a balanced diet. In comparison: Cooked beef is considered a good source of zinc, but with 6.1 mg zinc per 100 g it is only slightly higher than soybeans.
Peas (Pisum sativum) are not only delicious, but also extremely he althy. The reason for this is the high zinc content that is hidden in the green vegetables: peas contain almost 3.8 mg of zinc per 100 g. In addition, the pea also has a high protein content and contains saponins, which also have an immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory effect.
3. Lentils (3.7mg per 100g)
If you are looking for vegetarian foods with a lot of zinc, you cannot avoid lentils (Lens culinaris): With 3.7 mg zinc per 100 g, the tried and tested vegetable is particularly good suitable for supporting the immune system. In addition, the zinc-rich food scores with a high protein content and is usually easier to digest than other legumes such as peas or beans.
Tip: Lentils should never be eaten raw due to their lectin content. You should therefore always cook the he althy vegetables before eating them. UnlikeIncidentally, the cooking process has no negative effects on the content of minerals such as zinc.
4. Peanuts (3.5mg per 100g)Despite its name, the peanut (Arachis hypogaea) does not belong to the nuts but to the legume family (Faboideae) and is mixed with chickpeas (Cicer ) and lentils related. Like almost all legumes, the peanut shines as an excellent supplier of zinc. With around 3.0 to 3.5 mg zinc per 100 g, the peanut is not only a he althy snack, but also has a significantly higher zinc content than turkey meat (2 mg per 100 g).
5. Corn (3.5mg per 100g)
Whoever plants corn in the garden is cultivating a good source of zinc. Depending on cultivation and processing, the zinc content in corn is between 1.7 and 3.5 mg per 100 g. The biggest factor here is supplying the plant with sufficient nutrients. Targeted fertilization, for example with our Plantura organic universal fertilizer, not only prevents deficiencies in the plant, but also increases the mineral content in the grains.
Tip: The absorption of zinc in the body is not only determined by the zinc content in fruit and vegetables, but can also be inhibited or accelerated by other substances. In particular, phytic acid, found in raw vegetables, can inhibit zinc absorption, so always cook vegetables for improved zinc absorption. Coffee and alcohol can also interfere with zinc absorption. The absorption of zinc, on the other hand, is favored by proteins and vitamin C - a combination of zinc-rich vegetables with protein-rich foods and a dash of lemon juice is therefore ideal for absorption.
Fruit with a lot of zinc
Even though fruit is known to contain many vitamins, the zinc content often looks a bit sobering. However, there are a few types of fruit with zinc that are definitely suitable for strengthening the immune system.
1. Blackcurrants (0.3mg per 100g)
The black currant (Ribes nigrum) is not only a fruit with a lot of vitamin C, but can also have a decent zinc content: around 0.3 mg are in 100 g of the contain fresh berries. In combination with their high vitamin C content, the small berries prove to be a real insider tip for strengthening the immune system.
Strawberries (Fragaria) curlnot only with their sweet taste and their beautiful appearance, but are also extremely he althy. In fact, the strawberry not only contains a little more vitamin C than an orange, but also has a good zinc content with 0.3 mg zinc per 100 g. So you can eat the sweet fruit without a guilty conscience and it even does something for your immune system.
3. Redcurrants (0.3mg per 100g)
Like its close relative, the black currant, the red currant (Ribes rubrum) is a great addition to any diet. In addition to its high vitamin content, red currants impress with their good zinc content of 0.23 mg to 100 g.
4. Bananas (0.21mg per 100g)Bananas (Musa) are not only delicious, but also shine with their good ingredients: The content of minerals such as potassium, magnesium and iron is particularly high. But the banana can also convince with its zinc content - 0.21 mg zinc per 100 g are in the banana.
Tip: We have put together an overview of other iron-rich vegetables for you.
5. Blackberries (0.19mg per 100g)
Blackberries (Rubus sect. Rubus) have been considered medicinal plants since ancient times. In fact, the black berries are real vitamin bombs. But their zinc content is also impressive: with 0.2 mg zinc per 100 g, blackberries are one of the fruits with a lot of zinc.
Nuts with lots of zinc: Almonds, walnuts and co.
It is well known that nuts are he althy. In fact, the crunchy delicacies not only contain many he althy fatty acids: Nuts are also an important supplier of zinc. In the following, we reveal which nuts contain a particularly high amount of zinc.
1. Pecan (5.3mg per 100g)
The North American natives have long appreciated the pecan nut (Carya illinoinensis) and the nut is becoming popular with us too. Rightly so, after all, the pecan nut is not only delicious, but is also full of valuable minerals. The nut scores with 5.3 mg per 100 g because of its high zinc content. 150 g of the delicious nut thus cover a person's daily zinc requirement.
The Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) comes from the tropical rainforests of South America. In Germany, the nut is not only popular because of its taste, but also because of itshigh proportion of he althy, unsaturated fatty acids. But its zinc content should not be ignored either: with 4 mg per 100 g, the nut supports the immune system with additional zinc.
3. Walnut (2.7mg per 100g)
The walnut (Juglans regia) is a popular snack for many, especially in winter. In fact, the walnut is not only delicious in winter, but also very he althy: With its high zinc content of 2.7 mg per 100 g, the walnut supports the immune system and thus protects us from infections. In addition, the walnut contains a lot of vitamin E, which is responsible for cell protection.
4. Almond (2.2mg per 100g)Almonds (Prunus dulcis) are among the most popular nuts in Germany. But it is not only their delicious taste that makes the nut a welcome change on the menu: Due to their high vitamin E content, the nuts are a good support for the immune system. They also impress with a lot of zinc, because this is also abundant with a content of 2.2 mg per 100g and supports the immune system.
5. Hazelnut (1.9mg per 100g)
Small but powerful - the spherical hazelnut (Corylus avellana) is full of important nutrients despite its small size. In addition to its high content of unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, the nut is particularly impressive because of its zinc: it contains 1.9 mg per 100 g.
By the way: How much zinc we take in depends not only on what we eat, but also on the combination of foods. Zinc from animal products is better absorbed. Coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, but also a lot of calcium and phosphorus, which is contained in soft drinks, inhibit absorption.
Not only zinc, but also vitamin C contributes to maintaining a he althy immune system. You can find out which vegetables are particularly suitable for supplying vitamin C in our article on vegetables with a lot of vitamin C.