How important is zinc to our bodies and what happens if we don't get enough of it?

Along with calcium and iron, zinc is probably the most important mineral to the human body.

A zinc deficiency can cause, or certainly exacerbate, everything from acne to diabetes. This is because zinc is needed by the body to make insulin (the hormone that regulates glucose levels in the blood), eliminate harmful toxins, and to maintain a healthy immune system.

Men especially should give real thought to this essential mineral because their zinc levels are depleted every time they have sex due to the very high concentration of zinc in sperm.

Zinc is contained in a wide range of foods but the richest sources are meat (lamb in particular), oats, eggs, nuts and oysters.

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