How Much Zinc Should You Take Each Day?

Zinc is an important nutrient that supports your immune system and metabolism, aids in wound healing, helps you taste and smell properly and can be used to treat colds, according to the Mayo Clinic. In short, you need zinc to stay healthy, so it's important you're getting enough.

Unlike some nutrients, zinc can't be stored in your body, so you need to ingest a certain amount daily. Here's how much zinc you should be getting, where to find it, who's at risk for zinc deficiency and what you should know before you take zinc supplements.

Exactly how much zinc you need each day depends on factors including your sex, age and pregnancy status, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In general, infants need the least while certain teenagers need the most.

Here's the full breakdown of how much zinc you need daily:

Zinc is found in a wide variety of foods, and most people are able to get plenty from their diet, per the NIH.

Foods rich in zinc include:

• Oysters
• Certain fortified cereals
• Beef and pork
• Tofu
• Turkey
• Lentils, chickpeas, black-eyed peas and green peas
• Yogurt
• Oatmeal
• Squash and pumpkin seeds

Other popular foods that contain zinc in lower amounts include spinach, cashews, avocado and eggs.

Beyond food, zinc is found in many over-the-counter supplements, including most multivitamins as well as standalone zinc supplements. It is available in three forms — zinc gluconate, zinc acetate and zinc sulfate — and it's not clear whether one form is better than another.

Most people get sufficient amounts of zinc in their daily diet, but certain people are at risk for a deficiency, per the NIH:

• Vegetarians
• People with alcohol use disorder
• Those with digestive disorders such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
• People who have has gastrointestinal surgery, such as weight-loss surgery
• Those who have sickle cell disease

People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also pay attention to how much zinc they're getting, as they require higher amounts.

While zinc supplements are generally considered safe, per the Mayo Clinic, you should always talk to your doctor before adding a supplement to your routine, as it comes with certain risks and can interact with medications you're taking.

According to the NIH, getting more than the upper limit of zinc each day could cause the following:

• Headaches
• Nausea and/or stomach cramps
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Decreased copper levels
• Decreased immunity
• Lower levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol