By Sara and Zooey

Five different foods zinc are in… Oysters Crab Lobster Cashews Pork tenderloin

These are the roles zinc play in the body…. Zinc is an essential mineral that is found in every cell in our body. It stimulates the activity of about 100 enzymes, substances that promote biochemical reactions in your body. Among its many functions, zinc helps maintain a healthy immune system, is needed for wound healing, helps maintain your sense of taste and smell, and is needed for DNA synthesis. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence, and helps sperm develop and is needed for ovulation and fertilization.

A RECIPE Stir- Fry of Swiss Chard, Red Peppers and Broad Noodles…. 8 ounces broad egg noodles 3/4 cup defatted chicken broth 2 cups sliced onions 2 cups chopped cooked skinless chicken breasts 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 sweet red pepper, julienned 3 cups chopped red Swiss chard stems and leaves 2 teaspoons hot-pepper oil 1 tablespoon tahini 2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

Recipe continued 1. Cook the noodles according to package directions; drain well. 2. Meanwhile, coat a 10" no-stick skillet with no-stick cooking spray; set it over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, add 1/4 cup of the broth; bring to a boil. Add the onions, chicken, garlic, peppers and chard; cook and stir for 3 minutes, or until the onions are soft. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of broth; cover and cook for 4 minutes, or until the liquid has almost evaporated. 3. In a small bowl, mix the hot-pepper oil, tahini and soy sauce; add to the stir-fry. Toss with the noodles. Recipe Tips Tahini is a Middle Eastern paste made from ground sesame seeds. Look for it in the ethnic section of your supermarket or in Middle Eastern groceries.

What happens when you have a zinc deficiency… There is a range of effects that signal zinc deficiency such as retardation of growth in children, male reproduction, low blood sugar, poor bone growth, brain disorders, high blood cholesterol, poor circulation, eating disorders, problems with female reproduction, poor skin, nails and hair conditions and poor sense of taste and smell. Zinc is vital for healthy growth; dwarfism, stunted growth and being underweight for their age may occur in children if there diet is deficient in zinc.

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