Zinc-rich short ribs could provide nutrients you need to avoid cancer and heart disease

January 4, 2017

Zinc is an essential nutrient to boost your immune system and reverse ageing
A new study has found even a tiny bit more in our diet could do wonders
Adding just 4mg of zinc could prevent wear and tear of DNA, keeping us young
Just one rack of lean beef short ribs provides almost 10 times that amount

Mary Kekatos For Dailymail.com

Published:
15:31 EST, 4 January 2017

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Updated:
15:38 EST, 4 January 2017

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Zinc-rich foods such as beef short ribs, spinach and even chocolate could be the key to avoiding cancer and living a longer life.

A new study from the USF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI) found that just four milligrams of extra zinc a day in the diet can have a profound, positive impact on cellular health and help fight infections and diseases.

Many foods are high in zinc, meaning that even slight tweaks to your diet could make the difference.

In fact, just one rack of lean beef short ribs provides 38.7mg of zinc – almost 10 times the extra amount the study recommends.

Beef lovers rejoice! A rack of beef short ribs contains 10 times the amount of zinc needed to keep you young, fresh, and protect against diseases like cancer and heart disease

The current daily value recommended for zinc is 15 mg.

A dish of lean beef short ribs for example contains 38.7 mg of zinc, 258 percent more than the recommended intake.

One cup of cashews contains 7.7 mg or 51 percent of the daily value.

And chocolate contains 5.9 mg per cup.

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As we age, our DNA suffers a great deal of wear and tear. But the study insists zinc can have more of a transformative effect on our cells than we may think.

In the study, scientists measured the impact of zinc on the human metabolism by counting DNA strand breaks.

They found that adding a modest amount of the mineral greatly reduced the damage that DNA suffered.

TOP FIVE FOODS HIGH IN ZINC

The study says just four milligrams is enough to boost your defenses against cancer and heart disease. Here are some foods with much more…

1. SEAFOOD

Example: Cooked oysters

Zinc per 12 oysters: 66.8 mg

2. BEEF AND LAMB

Example: Cooked lean beef short ribs

Zinc in 1 rack: 38.7 mg

3. WHEAT GERM

Example: Toasted wheat germ

Zinc in 1 cup: 18.8 mg

4. SPINACH SALAD

Example: Salad with nuts and seeds

Zinc in 1 salad: 7.3 mg

5. COCOA

Example: Chocolate

Zinc in 1 cup: 5.9 mg

Evidence has shown zinc to play an important role in ensuring a healthy immune system.

Zinc also helps limit inflammation and oxidative stress in our body, which are associated with the onset of chronic cardiovascular diseases and cancers.

Deficiency may cause problems with growth, diarrhea, hair loss, and immune function.

Zinc supplements have already been found to reduce the severity and duration of common cold symptoms.

Studies showed taking daily doses of zinc acetate higher than 75 mg – five times more than is generally recommended – as soon as symptoms began, shortened colds by an average of 42 percent.

Previous studies had looked at the amount of zinc in the blood.

The results of this study could mean that food-based solutions could help relieve the impact of hidden hunger and malnutrition in countries with severe zinc deficiencies.

Lead author Dr Janet King said: ‘We were pleasantly surprised to see that just a small increase in dietary zinc can have such a significant impact on how metabolism is carried out throughout the body.

‘These results present a new strategy for measuring the impact of zinc on health and reinforce the evidence that food-based interventions can improve micro-nutrient deficiencies worldwide.’