Kiwifruit: Every 200 calories of this fruit comes with 0.5mg zinc with 4% DV.
Extremely rich in zinc, kiwis also contain a wide range of other minerals, including significant amounts of dietary fiber, potassium, folate, and vitamin E.
High zinc fruits include avocados, blackberries, pomegranates, raspberries, guavas, cantaloupes, apricots, peaches, kiwifruit, and blueberries. These fruits provide 2-12% of the daily value per cup.
What are the best sources of zinc? The best source of zinc is oysters, but it's also plentiful in red meat and poultry. Other good sources are beans, nuts, crab, lobster, whole grains, breakfast cereals, and dairy products.
Bananas aren't the best zinc foods, but they'll help you sneak a small amount into your diet. Large bananas that are about 8 to 9 inches long and weigh around 135 grams have . 20 milligrams of zinc.
Avocadoes: This is an essential fruit with about 0.6mg zinc per 100 grams. Blackberries: Every 200 calories of blackberries contain 2.5mg zinc with 22% DV.
Phytate, which is present in staple foods like cereals, corn and rice, has a strong negative effect on zinc absorption from composite meals. Inositol hexaphosphates and pentaphosphates are the phytate forms that exert these negative effects, whereas the lower phosphates have no or little effect on zinc absorption.
Zinc deficiency can happen in people who have problems absorbing nutrients, for example, older people and those who have some gut diseases. Some medicines can also increase the loss of zinc through urine.
Vegetarians tend to eat higher levels of legumes, soybeans, beans, nuts, and whole-grain food products. While they are healthful food choices, they can impair the body's ability to absorb zinc due to the presence of phytates. These substances bind to zinc, so the body cannot absorb it.
Blueberries contain iron, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and vitamin K. Each of these is a component of bone. Adequate intake of these minerals and vitamins contributes to building and maintaining bone structure and strength.
Sources of Zinc. The richest food sources of zinc include meat, fish, and seafood [3]. Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food, but beef contributes 20% of zinc intakes from food in the United States because it is commonly consumed [7]. Eggs and dairy products also contain zinc [3].
Spinach may be one of the most zinc rich veggies. Other vegetables for zinc include: Mushrooms. Asparagus.
Kiwifruit. Bananas tend to get all the credit when it comes to potassium-rich fruits, but a single small kiwifruit has nearly as much potassium, at 215 milligrams, as an entire banana.
Kiwis are high in Vitamin C and dietary fiber and provide a variety of health benefits. This tart fruit can support heart health, digestive health, and immunity.
Strawberries (0.3mg per 100g)
Strawberries not only contain more vitamin C than oranges, but they also contain a decent amount of zinc at around 0.3mg of zinc per 100g.
Early symptoms of zinc deficiency include a loss of appetite and, in infants and children, slowed growth and development. People may lose their hair in patches. They may feel sluggish and irritable. Taste and smell may be impaired.
Zinc deficiency during growth periods results in growth failure. Epidermal, gastrointestinal, central nervous, immune, skeletal, and reproductive systems are the organs most affected clinically by zinc deficiency.
Skin manifestations - Skin conditions associated with zinc deficiency include acrodermatitis enteropathica, cheilitis, and dermatitis. Zinc deficiency is also considered a risk factor for diabetes mellitus and obesity.
Zinc is best absorbed when taken with a meal that contains protein. The best sources of zinc are oysters (richest source), red meats, poultry, cheese (ricotta, Swiss, gouda), shrimp, crab, and other shellfish.
Zinc Concerns
Phytates, an antioxidant in coffee, may inhibit absorption of zinc. Coffee has been found to affect the bio-availability of zinc, in lab tests, by up to 21 percent or 32 percent.
Immunosuppressant medications -- Since zinc may make the immune system stronger, it should not be taken with corticosteroids (such a prednisone), cyclosporine, or other medications intended to suppress the immune system.
Yogurt is a rich source of dietary minerals, and the NDBsr26 reports that a 100-g serving of plain low-fat yogurt includes amounts of calcium at 183 mg, magnesium at 17 mg, potassium at 234 mg, phosphorous at 144 mg, and zinc at 0.9 mg (14).
Dark Chocolate contains reasonable amounts of zinc. In fact, a 100-gram bar of 70–85% dark chocolate contains 3.3 mg of zinc, or 30% of the DV - US Department of Agriculture: 3.34 mg of zinc (30% of your Daily Value). 12.02 milligrams (mg) of iron.