Zinc
Supports immune function, protein synthesis and testosterone regulation.
Why it matters
Zinc is involved in over 100 enzymatic reactions and is critical for immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, and DNA synthesis. It plays a key role in testosterone production and reproductive health, and is essential for the sense of taste and smell. Many athletes are chronically low in zinc without knowing it.
For endurance athletes
Athletes lose zinc through sweat, and studies consistently show many endurance athletes have suboptimal intake leaving them more susceptible to illness, slower to recover between sessions, and with suppressed testosterone levels. Plant-based athletes face additional risk due to phytates in grains and legumes reducing zinc absorption.
Signs of deficiency
- ·Frequent illness and slow recovery from training
- ·Poor wound healing
- ·Loss of appetite
- ·Impaired sense of taste or smell
Best food sources
- ·Red meat and shellfish (oysters especially)
- ·Poultry
- ·Dairy
- ·Nuts and seeds (pumpkin, hemp)
- ·Legumes
- ·Whole grains
Track Zinc automatically
MOVE logs micronutrients from every food you eat and shows sport-specific context alongside your numbers.