11. Mineral – Zinc
Zinc is important for the body’s immune system. It supports various cellular activities that are necessary for the body to survive. Zinc is a fundamental antioxidant that helps to control the immune system and its responses to attacks. As important as it is, zinc is not prioritized in the diet, and a great number of people have a zinc deficiency. This is mainly due to a poor diet. Sugar, carbohydrate-rich diets prevent the body from absorbing what zinc is ingested.
However, there are those who have non-dietary reasons for a zinc deficiency. For instance, people with the leaky gut syndrome have problems absorbing minerals such as zinc.
The first line of defense in the fight against cancer is the immune system. The immune system is dependent on zinc for its proper functioning. Zinc can decrease the rate at which a tumor grows. It can also stimulate and deploy special cells in the immune system called apoptosis. These cells are called programmed death cells. A lack of zinc exposes the body to a variety of cancers. Increased levels of zinc have been linked to a reduced number of tumors as well as the decreased severity of tumors.
A study of individuals with the BRCA1 gene which makes them more susceptible to breast cancer revealed that there was a lower risk of developing cancer among those who had higher levels of zinc in their bodies. Studies of bladder cancer patients revealed low zinc levels. Introducing zinc to these patients pointed to the stimulation of the apoptosis, with an anti-cancer effect. Zinc is obtained by eating a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. The jackfruit should be included in this diet as it contains zinc.