This Metal Repairs Your DNA

Dear Health Conscious Reader,

Every hour of the day, your cells are under attack. Normally, this is okay because your cells have a built-in DNA repair system that fixes any damage. But when your cells are undernourished, they can lose the ability to repair themselves. And that’s bad news.

Part of the reason for the explosion of cancer in modern times is because we’re not repairing our DNA. Our bodies aren’t getting enough of the nutrients we need to make this process work.

But you can help protect yourself with a simple mineral. I’m talking about zinc.

I just finished reading a new study that shows you can easily prevent – and reverse – this damage to your DNA. An Aug. 2009 study by the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University1 shows that supplementing with zinc reverses cell damage.

Add this latest finding to zinc’s list of health benefits:

  • Heart-health booster
  • Essential to your prostate and sexual performance
  • Can prevent pneumonia and speed the recovery from colds
  • Promotes wound healing.

I see patients that have dangerously low levels of zinc all the time. As many as 40 percent of older people in the U.S. are deficient.2

But it’s easy to get the zinc you need for healthy cells. Zinc is in many foods we eat. Some good food sources of zinc are:3

Food

Mg per serving

% of DV

Oysters, 6 medium

76.7

513

Beef shanks, cooked, 3 ounces

8.9

59

Crab, Alaska  king, cooked, 3 ounces

6.5

43

Pork shoulder, cooked, 3 ounces

4.2

28

Chicken leg, roasted, 1 leg

2.7

18

Cashews, dry roasted, 1 ounce

1.6

11

Yogurt, low fat, 1 cup

1.6

11

Unfortunately, your body can only absorb 15% – 40% of the zinc in food. Relying on food alone means you’re just not

getting the minimum amount to prevent deficiency related disease – let alone enough to repair any mutation in your genes. You need to take a supplement.

Zinc picolinate is the most absorbable form of zinc. I recommend 30 mg a day to promote good health and reverse DNA damage and mutation.

Take your zinc supplement 1 hour before your meal or at least 2 hours after your meal. Certain foods can block the absorption of zinc. Stay away from these foods for at least 2 hours after taking zinc: bran and other fiber-rich foods, foods that contain phosphorous such as milk and poultry, and whole grain breads and cereals.

And if you take other mineral supplements, such as copper or iron, space them about 2 hours apart. Zinc can interfere with the absorption of these minerals. To avoid any of these problems, I simply take my zinc supplement before I go to bed.

Store it in a dark place at room temperature.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

  1. Song, et al. “Dietary zinc restriction and repletion affects DNA integrity in healthy men.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol.90, No.2, 321-328, August 2009.
  2. Oregon State University, “Zinc Deficiences A Global Concern.” Sept.17, 2009.
  3. National Institute of Health – Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Zinc http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/FactSheets/Zinc.asp