The Power of Zinc and Quercetin
“Let food be thy medicine" Hippocrates
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You have the power to reclaim your health through food!
I believe in that totally!
Yes, it starts with information, but then YOU must take action. Information without action is inoculation and leads to apathy and inaction.
As you read this article, consider what you will do to TAKE ACTION today for your health.
Will you find some of these foods with quercetin in them?
Will you prepare more of your food at home using organic, local ingredients?
How about planting an elderberry bush or two in your own yard?
Find a local source of dairy and truly grassfed meat?
It really IS up to you. And, the accumulation of small actions lead to the world we will live in tomorrow.
What world are you building?
Zinc has become popular for its known ability to help keep viruses from replicating in our cells, thus boosting our immune systems and reducing likelihood of colds/flu or reducing the seriousness of an acute illness.
In order to be effective, zinc needs to get into our cells rather than remain in our blood streams.
How does it do that?
The zinc needs a little help crossing the cell membrane. The plant chemical quercetin can act as that liaison to take it across the cell membrane. This all gets complex in the details, but it is, essentially, a chemical reaction where the quercetin molecule binds to zinc to get it through the cell membrane barrier.
As the quercetin takes the zinc across the cell membrane, we get the zinc in the cells and the benefits of the antiviral properties.
We don’t need tons of zinc, or lots of quercetin for this exquisite action to work. We just need enough.
Foods high in quercetin are:
✔︎ Elderberries
✔︎ Onions
✔︎ Berries
✔︎ Capers
✔︎ Tomatoes
✔︎ Grapes/wine
✔︎ Apples
✔︎ Green tea
Many more fruits and vegetables have small amounts of quercetin. Elderberry is the most widely known for this particular polyphenol (plant chemical) and popularized for it.
What about zinc?
If you’re lucky enough to have a source of clean oysters, you might be all set.
Other food sources of zinc include:
Beef
Shellfish and shrimp
Beans
Dairy
Whole grains
So, as the flu and cold season is upon us, it’s a great time to reflect on the food you’re bringing into your home for your meals. Are they providing your body what you need to stay strong and healthy? Food remains the most important way to keep our bodies strong and healthy.
We eat what we bring into our homes. Are you bringing in healing foods?
As Hippocrates says ““Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."
About Raw Milk Mama: I believe in the freedom to feed our families how we see fit. I also see the direction that our country is going--no one wants to live in a world where food scarcity is a constant reality. It's time to take back our food systems so they serve us, not monopolistic corporations.