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Vitamins & Supplements

Zinc

Zinc is a quiet workhorse mineral, involved in immune function, skin and wound healing. It is a popular pick during cold season and with people tackling breakouts. It is also easy to take too much of, which can backfire and block copper absorption, so this is a stick-near-the-label mineral rather than a load-up one.

Common questions

How much zinc is safe?

Most supplements sit around 15 to 25mg, which is sensible. The upper daily limit for adults is about 40mg from all sources, and going well over for a long stretch can cause problems, so resist the urge to double up.

Does zinc help with colds or skin?

There is some support for zinc slightly shortening colds, and it plays a real role in skin health. As with most single minerals, it helps most if you were low to start with.