If you run out of steam during your exercise routine, you might not be getting enough zinc in the diet, according to a new report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In a study of active young men who consumed a diet low in zinc during a nine-week study, their cardiovascular fitness level dipped in comparison to their performance during nine weeks on a zinc-fortified diet. Researchers theorize that an enzyme in the body called carbonic anhydrase, which relies on zinc for proper function, helps the body expel carbon dioxide, with the demand rising substantially during routine exercise.
When following a low-zinc diet, men appear to be less efficient at expelling excess carbon dioxide, according to the study's lead author, Henry Lukaski.
An essential mineral that stimulates activity in many body activities, zinc is recognized as an important component in immune system defenses, wound healing, and overall body development. Good sources of zinc include meat, fortified cereals, and beans, in addition to supplements.
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