Zinc in Grains

Enriched Foods Contain Added Vitamins & Nutrients, Including Zinc

Many foods that reside in the American Food Chain contain zinc due to enrichment at the time of processing, particularly when it comes to the Grain Group.

To see how much added preservatives - including vitamins and minerals - are added to your foods, a good place to start is with the product's nutritional label.

Cereals and breads are notorious for adding a plethora of additives.

We have calcium-rich, dietary fiber-rich, Vitamin-C rich and iron-rich products that may be creating more health woes rather than adding value to our health.

For example, excess of iron in the daily diet for men over the age of forty may contribute to heart disease - chiefly, a heart attack.

As to calcium infused products - numerous controlled scientific studies have indicated that added calcium, as well as calcium supplements offer no proven health benefits.

The same applies to fish tablets - those popular Omega 3's.

Only the natural food source provides the benefits to the human body and at this time, the results cannot be replicated in a pill or food additive.

Excess Amounts of Zinc Can Result in Toxicity

From nasal sprays to throat drops, we have products sitting on store shelves in America which are mined with zinc. As to nose sprays, some individuals experienced a lose in their sense of smell due to the zinc content which damaged the sensory nerves.

As to medications which tout a reduction in healing time for colds, keep in mind that other ingredients contained within the product - such as Vitamin C will inactivate the zinc. Other ingredients which can render zinc inactive include citric acid and sorbitol - both commonly found in cold-fighting products.

If you're eating one of the highly-saturated cereals each morning, take note that some vitamins and minerals accumulate in the body. Over time, a high accumulation can lead to serious health ills.

Symptoms of Zinc Toxicity include a metallic bitter taste, nausea, stomach pain, cramps, and bloody diarrhea.

Symptoms of Zinc Deficiency

Frequent infections due to poor immunity, hair loss, poor appetite, issues with sense of taste and smell, skin issues - including skin sores, slow growth rate for children and teens, difficultly with night vision and slow healing.

Hypogonadism can also occur in males when the body's reproductive glands produce inadequate amounts of hormones.

Healthy adult males require about 11 milligrams of zinc per day, and women who aren't pregnant or lactating, about 9 milligrams daily.

Zinc in Grains List
Food Selection: Based on 1 Cup Unless Stated	Milligrams
General Mills Total Raisin Bran	15.57
Kellogg's All-Bran - 3/4 cup	15.08
General Mills Cheerios	4.76
General Mills Rice Chex, 1¼ cups	4.31
Barley, Pearled - dry, raw form	4.26
General Mills Raisin Nut Bran	4.21
General Mills Lucky Charms OR Cocoa Puffs	4.17
Quaker Oat Life - 3/4 cup	4.06
Honey Nut Cheerios	4.02
Buckwheat Flour, Whole-Groat	3.74
Kellogg's All-Bran per 1/2 cup serving size	3.72
General Mills Trix	3.52
Wheat Flour, Whole Grain	3.12
Oat Bran, raw	2.92
Bulgur, raw, dry	2.70
Macaroni & Cheese per package weighing 283 grams	2.26
Yellow Cornmeal	2.22
Wild Rice, cooked	2.20
Rice, white, long-grain, regular, raw, enriched	2.02
Miso	1.76
Oat bran, cooked	1.16
Spaghetti, whole-wheat, cooked	1.13
Noodles, egg, cooked, enriched	1.04
Bulgur, cooked	1.04
Bagels, cinnamon-raisin - one bagel that is about four inches in diameter	1.01

In Summary

Natural - or as close to natural is always best for the body in obtaining healthy benefits as well as in assisting in the metabolic process.

One of the best choices for that morning bowl of cereal is Nabisco Shredded Wheat. That's the only ingredient listed in the labeling. Another - whole oats.

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