Prolonged life Chocolate, tea and coffee with zinc provide protection against oxidative stress and halt the aging process

Nutrition experts recommend zinc as a food supplement

Staying young and healthy for a long time is high on the list of most people's priorities. But why do we age at all and can this process be slowed down or slowed down? According to a German research team, zinc can help to slow down aging and develop better overall immune system resistance.

Researchers at the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg have investigated how oxidative stress can be reduced, which is at least partially responsible for the aging process and for a lower life expectancy. Together with researchers from the US, the team discovered that zinc provides protection against oxidative stress. Especially if it is taken in combination with certain foods such as chocolate, tea or coffee. The study results were recently published in the journal "Nature Chemistry".

Will chocolate, tea and coffee with zinc additives be available soon? A German-American research team recognized the protective potential of zinc in combination with these foods. (Image: almaje / fotolia.com)

Zinc - a new fountain of youth?

The research team around Professor Dr. Ivana Ivanović-Burmazović has discovered that the trace element protects zinc from superoxides. Superoxides are formed in the body as a result of oxygen utilization. These highly reactive molecules cause damage to numerous cells, proteins and lipids as well as to the human genome. In this way the aging is accelerated. This process is called oxidative stress. However, zinc alone can not stop this process. As the researchers report, zinc can only develop its protective effect when taken in combination with certain plant substances, the polyphenols. These are found, for example, in coffee, tea and chocolate, but also in wine.

How is the protection??

According to the research team, zinc activates the so-called hydroquinone group in the polyphenols. Thus, when zinc and hydroquinone combine, an enzyme is created that on the one hand acts as an antioxidant and on the other hand protects the body against the degradation processes caused by oxidation. The harmful superoxides are metabolized before they harm the organism. Thus, oxidative stress can be reduced or even avoided.

What are the risks of superoxides??

The research team reports that superoxides, as a by-product of human cellular respiration, are at least partially responsible for the human aging process. In addition, the Superoxide are suspected to promote numerous diseases such as inflammation, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Zinc as a food supplement for coffee, tea and chocolate?

According to the researchers also other metals such as manganese, iron, copper or nickel have an antioxidant effect. In contrast to zinc, oxidative stress can even increase with these metals, if you take too much of it. In contrast, zinc is much less toxic. New drugs or foods could be supplemented with zinc without significant side effects. This could promote consumer health. "It is quite possible that in the future, wine, coffee, tea or chocolate with added zinc will be available", summed up Ivana Ivanović-Burmazović in a press release.

Beware of alcohol and zinc

Although wine also contains hydroquinone and thus has an antioxidant effect in combination with zinc, the professor emphasizes that alcohol can not be considered as beneficial to health. "Any alcohol content would destroy the positive effects of this combination," says the expert. (Vb)