Many women/non-binary people with hormonal conditions are willing to try a lot of things to reduce or eliminate the accompanying symptoms of them. While there are medical interventions that exist, some are still interested in going the supplement route.
Zinc is one of the supplements that is said to possibly help with hormonal conditions and we are going talk all about it in this post!
Introduction to Zinc
Zinc is one of 118 chemical elements with an atomic number of 30. It is essential for living things due to the roles it has in keeping organisms healthy. In humans it is responsible for regulation and helping with the proper functioning of various systems.
The human body stores it in various places (i.e. organs and cells) but it is not found naturally in us. To obtain zinc, we need to either get it from food and/or take a supplement.
This mineral is used for industrial, supplemental and topical (ointments and creams) related purposes.
In terms of supplements, zinc comes in different types. These include gummies, liquids, lozenges, capsules and tablets. Some of them have the zinc combined with other minerals/vitamins or it is by itself.
There are several forms of zinc which include acetate, gluconate, picolinate, orotate, sulfate and citrate. These forms differ when it comes to absorbability, price and what it could specifically do for our health.
In terms of food, zinc is found in a variety of things. The foods with the highest amount of it include beef, pork, oysters, tofu, chicken, cashews, oatmeal and mushrooms.
Zinc and hormonal conditions
Zinc supplementation has shown to have some positive effects when it comes hormonal issues that plague many women/non-binary people. This is said to possibly be because of zinc’s ability to regulate hormones.
. The following are the hormonal related issues that supplementing with zinc may help with:
- Fertility- Studies suggest that zinc may help shorten the time that it takes to get pregnant.
- Metabolic syndrome in people with PCOS- A sufficient amount of zinc is essential for insulin regulation and for having a proper response to it. It also reduces glucose and triglyceride levels. Getting all of this under control reduces the risk for things like diabetes and heart disease.
- Painful menstrual cramps- This problem is also called, dysmenorrhea. It is very common and can get in the way of having a quality life. Studies show that zinc has anti-inflammatory actions that may prevent and treat the painful cramps.
- PMS- For some women, the levels of zinc get lower in the luteal phase (after ovulation and the two weeks before your period starts). Getting one’s zinc levels up during this time may reduce the brain sluggishness, mood swings and bad sleep.
- Acne-The anti-inflammatory action that zinc has may help with the acne that can come with hormonal issues.
- Excess hair- Many people with PCOS have too much androgens which then causes excess hair to form in unwanted areas (i.e. upper lip and chin). Zinc is shown to have anti-androgen effects so it may help reduce the amount of hair that is grown.
The above reasons are why quite a few professionals (the ones that are okay with supplements) that specialize in women’s/non-binary health recommend zinc supplementation for hormonal issues.
Magnesium and calcium are two other supplements that are touted as being great for hormones. Luckily, you can find products that contain all three things in one! An example of a combination product is this one by Solaray.
The dosage for zinc should be no more than 50 mg per day to avoid negative side effects. These uncomfortable effects include GI issues, chest pain, fatigue and headaches.
Other things zinc can do for our health
There are quite a few other things that zinc is said to possibly do for us. They are as follows:
- Increase the strength of our immune systems.
- Improve the frequency and severity of acne.
- Improve age related vision loss.
- Reduce signs of ADHD if taken with prescription medication.
- Shorten lengths of colds.
- Improve low moods.
- Improve brain fog and memory issues.
- Improve smell and taste ability.
- Heal bed sores and diaper rash when applied in cream form.
- Help with male fertility issues.
- Help improve metabolic syndrome markers.
As with any supplement, the benefits of zinc are not definitive. However, there is a lot of good evidence for them.
Our favorite supplements
My husband and I both take zinc. I had stopped for a while but ever since I did more research on it- I have started taking it again. This is partly because I noticed that my cramps got worse when I stopped taking it (I use a health journal everyday!.
If you have a sensitive stomach, the lozenges I use are a great option. You can find them here.
My husband does not have a sensitive stomach by any sense of the word. Because of this, he is able to take a larger dosed pill from Nature’s Bounty that may be hard on some people’s stomach. You can find the product here.
Zinc may be the thing to try
If you are struggling with hormonal problems, you could give zinc a try. It may not cure you but it could end up helping you a little bit.
Are any of you taking zinc? If so, what do you feel it is doing for you?
Thanks for reading!
Affiliate disclaimer: Some of the links on my blog may be affiliate links. This means I will get a commission on any clicks and purchases you make.
Health disclaimer: I am not a doctor or any kind of a medical professional. I am not telling you what to do and nothing I say is a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult with your doctor before making changes that could affect your health.
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