By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern
Boosting our immune systems and keeping ourselves healthy has been a topic of much popularity recently, and rightfully so. It’s never fun to be sick, and it’s always a good thing to do what we can to keep our bodies healthy. One such way that we can do that is by making sure that we are getting enough zinc every day. 
According to registered dietician Helen West, zinc plays a very large role in the health of our bodies. Specifically, it is required for the function of over 300 enzymes along with being involved in many other important bodily processes. Zinc helps to metabolize nutrients, maintain your immune system, and it also grows and repairs tissues.
Our bodies don’t store zinc, so that means that it’s up to us to make sure that we are getting enough zinc through our foods each day. It is recommended that men get about 11 milligrams per day and that women get around 8 milligrams per day. Taking zinc supplements is always an option, but the foods that we eat are typically enough to meet our needs.
With that being said though, not all foods are created equal, and some are richer in zinc than others. The following are some of the foods that contain the most zinc.
- Meats – Red meats in particular have more zinc than others.
- Shellfish – Oysters are the one food that has the most zinc out of them all.
- Legumes
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Dairy products
- Eggs
- Whole grains
- Dark chocolate
Arizona agriculture produces some of the best zinc-rich foods! Local farmers and ranchers here in our home state provide us with lots of meats, eggs, dairy products, legumes, whole grains, and more! For more information on where to find some locally produced foods, check out the Fill Your Plate website!