Oysters. Although most fish, including crab, lobster, shrimp, scallops and salmon, contain zinc, the oyster is really king. Just six medium ones will give you more than 400% of your RDA! They're versatile, too—you can eat them cooked, breaded or canned.
Certain types of fish, such as sardines, salmon, flounder, and sole, also contain zinc, but in less potent doses. Red meat, like beef, is considered a good source of zinc.
Crab and Lobster Make It Easy to Meet Your Zinc Needs
Crab and lobster are both excellent sources of zinc. According to the USDA, 3 ounces (oz) of cooked Alaskan king crab offers 6.5 mg, and a small steamed or boiled lobster has 4.7 mg.
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.
Eggs contain a moderate amount of zinc and can help you meet your daily target. For example, one large egg contains 4.8% of the DV for men and 6.6% of the DV for women ( 29 ).
Although bananas are rich in carbohydrate, fiber, protein, fat, and vitamins A, C, and B6 they are largely deficient of iron (Fe), iodine, and zinc (Zn).
Vegetables high in zinc include shiitake mushrooms, green peas, spinach, lima beans, lentil sprouts, asparagus, beet greens, broccoli, okra, and sweet corn.
The same serving of pork chops, ham and dark meat chicken has 3 milligrams, while white meat chicken only has 1 milligram. You'll also get 1 milligram of zinc from 1 ounce of Swiss or provolone cheese, 1 cup of yogurt, cottage cheese or milk, and a 3-ounce serving of tuna, sardines, swordfish, salmon and catfish.
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.
If you choose white canned tuna, either water- or oil-packed, you'll get 0.4 milligram of zinc in a 3-ounce serving. The amount of zinc in light canned tuna varies a little between oil- and water-packed brands. Light tuna packed in water has 0.6 milligrams, while oil-packed brands have 0.8 milligrams of zinc.
Chicken also makes the list of meats that contain zinc. If you love dark meat chicken, you have the leg up from those who prefer white meat. Dark meat, which is found in chicken thighs and legs, contains about 1.5 mg of zinc for every 3 oz.
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.
Potatoes are an excellent, low-fat source of carbohydrates, with one-fourth the calories of bread. When boiled, a single medium sized potato contains about half the daily adult requirement of vitamin C, as well as significant amounts of iron, potassium, fiber and zinc.
Recommended Amounts. RDA: The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adults 19+ years is 11 mg a day for men and 8 mg for women. Pregnancy and lactation requires slightly more at 11 mg and 12 mg, respectively.
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.
Eggs. One large hard-boiled egg contains 0.53 milligrams of zinc (4.8% RDA for men, 6.6% RDA for women). Eggs are a complete protein, meaning they provide all nine essential amino acids — none of which your body can produce on its own, so you have to get them through food.
Each 1/2 cup of cooked broccoli contains about . 25 mg zinc. “The total amount zinc in broccoli is certainly on the low end of this list,” says Mason.
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).
Carrots do contain zinc, but not very much. 1 large carrot, about 8 inches long, contains only 0.2 mg of zinc.
Extremely rich in zinc, kiwis also contain a wide range of other minerals, including significant amounts of dietary fiber, potassium, folate, and vitamin E.
Phytic acid impairs mineral absorption
For example, snacking on nuts between meals could reduce the amount of iron, zinc, and calcium you absorb from these nuts but not from the meal you eat a few hours later. However, when you eat high phytate foods with most of your meals, mineral deficiencies may develop over time.
Oats provide many important vitamins and minerals, and they're linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and other health issues. A half-cup of oats provides 1.5 mg of zinc. Like legumes, oats (and other whole grains) contain phytates, which can affect how well your body absorbs the mineral.