Zinc – Increasing Levels in your Family’s Diet

Zinc is an essential nutrient that is needed for many things in the body, but especially to help the immune system work properly. Children who don't have enough zinc in their diet may have frequent colds and infections and it can take a long time for cuts and grazes to heal.

Zinc is also important in the sense of smell and taste and people who are deficient in zinc often find that their sense of taste and smell is impaired.

To help your children build a healthy immune system to be able to fight off childhood infections, it is important that they consume enough zinc in their diets. Foods which are naturally high in zinc include:

• Red meat, such as lamb or beef
• Liver
• Milk and dairy products
• Seafood, such as prawns and shellfish
• Spinach
• Seeds such as pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds

Milk is naturally a good source of zinc - a glass of ordinary milk contains about 1mg. Some milks, such as Anchor 1+ and Anchor 3+ are fortified with additional zinc to help protect young children from common childhood illnesses.

How much zinc do kids need?

The amount of zinc a child needs depends on their age, gender and stage of growth. Recommended daily zinc intakes for children are:

Click here to take our zinc quiz and find out if your kids are getting enough.