Why Zinc Is More Important Than You Think, Ditch Your HbA1C Test, & Shocking Stats About Metabolic Health
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In this week’s post, I explore an interesting zinc function that might surprise you, why your Hemoglobin A1C test is nonsense and a 2018 study that warrants more attention.
Zinc and the Gut Lining
When thinking about strengthening our immune systems, zinc is the go-to. Immunity boosting is undoubtedly one of zinc's primary functions, protein, and DNA synthesis, contribution to wound healing, and promoting growth and development during childhood.
Another essential role that zinc participates in involves building and maintaining our intestinal barrier, a.k.a the gut lining. The state of our microbiome is vital to overall metabolic health, which is why the zinc and intestinal permeability relationship is critical.
Common foods in today's modern diet are without a doubt causing harm and stress to your gut lining. So, if you are eating a diet aligned with the standard western diet, you should start repairing your gut ASAP. Gut lining repair also needs to be a high priority for those that have recently taken antibiotics. Antibiotics remove both good and bad bacteria from your digestive tract, thus depleting your levels of zinc.
If your gut lining integrity becomes compromised, you will most likely suffer from "Leaky Gut Syndrome." This condition is hard to diagnose, and if left untreated, it will cause inflammatory reactions in the body and several chronic health conditions.
To begin repairing the structure of your gut lining, start getting more zinc into your diet. If you currently eat a nose to tail (organ meats are the best source for zinc and many other nutrients), animal-based diet, chances are that your zinc level is optimal. If this is your diet or you are consuming mostly animal meats, the need for zinc supplementation is unnecessary.
However, if your diet lacks animal protein, I would highly suggest supplementing with a zinc-carnosine vitamin like the one found here: https://bit.ly/3aHJn6P. The combination of L-carnosine and zinc gives this product a high bioavailability to your body and intestinal cells.
Side note: Getting too much zinc can also be problematic to the lining of your gut. To stay within your optimal amount, stick with the tips above. There is no need to supplement zinc if you're eating a high protein diet.
HgA1C levels and how they can be misleading
A hemoglobin A1C (HgA1c) blood test is used as a common test for diabetes and pre-diabetes. The A1C test measures the glycation on your hemoglobin molecules and gives us an average of the blood glucose levels over 90 days.
The A1C is only valuable if an individual wants to monitor their progress over time. For the average person wanting to gain insight into their glucose levels in isolation, this test is inaccurate and unreliable.
Recall the A1C is a 90-day average. The test's inaccuracy is that it fails to tell you anything about high and low glycemic responses, post-prandial glucose responses, or severe glucose swings that might be occurring. The A1C misses glycemic variability completely, which is a strong indicator of metabolic health. (1)
Furthermore, many variables change our red blood cells' life span, making the A1C unreliable data. Conditions and factors such as anemia, smoking, nutrient deficiencies, infections, hyperglycemia, and pregnancy reduce red blood cells' life span. (1) Also, a ketogenic or LCHF diet will extend the life of red blood cells.
As you can see, the A1C value is easily misrepresented and should not be deemed significant when understanding metabolic health.
Here are some accurate tests and methods you can recommend instead:
Serum Fructosamine Test: an estimate of the fasting blood glucose from the previous 7-21 days
Glycated Albumin Test: measures the serum albumin that is glycated from the previous 14-21 days.
Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM). In my opinion, this is the future of metabolic health. A CGM gives you real-time data into your fasting glucose, postprandial glucose, and glucose variability. The CGM is a wearable patch placed on the back of your arm, and the data is sent to your smartphone. The value you can get from just one month of a CGM is incredible! I would love to know if you have tried one in the past or are thinking about getting one soon!
If you’re strongly considering a CGM, check out nutrisense.io and use ZWF at checkout for $25 off.
You likely have a Metabolic Syndrome.
I hate to be the one to say it, but data from this study paints a grim picture regarding how many of us are actually metabolically healthy. This is a frightening trajectory considering the serious implications that poor metabolic health can have on our bodies.
Only 12 percent of American adults are metabolically healthy, study finds (2)
Word for word, this is the alarming title of a study published in 2018. The study demonstrates the desperate need for shifting the metabolic health crises our country currently faces.
For this study, the five criteria used for classifying metabolic unhealthy individuals:
High blood pressure
increased weight circumference
Low HDL
High Triglycerides
Impaired fasting blood glucose.
88% of the participants in this study had one or more of the above symptoms. Even those that appeared healthy and were in a normal weight range had poor metabolic health.
The implications of poor metabolic health are considered high-risk. Having one or more of the above symptoms can lead to type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other serious health issues. (2)
Given the statistical data, metabolic health has to become the new norm for achieving health. The negative outcomes of poor metabolic health are far too serious to not pay attention to.
Our minds have to start shifting to becoming metabolically healthy. Your actual health goes far beyond just looking good in the mirror and a number on the scale.
I want each of us to thrive as humans! If I can help you achieve this, please reach out.
If you have any questions, concerns, or just general comments, I would love to hear from you.
I’m here to help!
Take care of yourself and each other,
- Zach Winfield
If you learned something new or insightful, please share this with someone you think might also enjoy
References
https://www.ccjm.org/content/88/2/81
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181128115045.html