When it comes to dietary supplements, Basic Brands has everything from A to Zinc. And in this case, last is definitely not least.

That’s because Zinc is an essential nutrient that helps our bodies in many ways. Since we don’t produce zinc on our own, we have to get the mineral through the food we eat and through nutritional supplements such as Zinc DEFEND naturally-flavored lozenges.

Why is zinc so important? For starters, it plays a big role in the development and function of cells all over our body, so it’s needed to support routine physiology that keeps us healthy and strong. If you run short on zinc, that deficiency can cause lots of problems!

Here’s a closer look at five ways zinc can help keep your body running on all cylinders:

Zinc Keeps Your Immune System Strong

Our immune system faces a sort of double whammy as we age: On the one hand, our resistance to illness gradually weakens and makes us prone to increased infections, and on the other hand our bodies tend to absorb less zinc the older we get. That’s a problem because zinc supports the production of T-cells that give us a fighting chance against germs. Taking a dietary supplement with zinc helps defend against infections and disease by bolstering our immune system and ensuring that it’s ready to respond.

Zinc Shortens the Duration and Severity of Cold and Allergy Symptoms

If you do get a cold or if seasonal pollen is driving you crazy, zinc can nip things in the bud and get your body back to feeling how it should. Zinc DEFEND is a nutritional supplement that can be taken as soon as cold or allergy symptoms appear. The lozenges contain 50% more zinc than other leading zinc cold remedies and they come in three great-tasting flavors including cherry, orange and lemon. You can also try a berry-flavored, extra-strength MULTI DEFEND concentrate with immune-supporting elderberry.

Zinc Speeds Up Your Body’s Healing Process

Studies show that our bodies need zinc to produce collagen, which is the primary building block for our skin and other connective tissues. When we have a zinc deficiency, it’s harder for our bodies to heal injuries such as a sprained ankle or a skin wound. By stimulating collagen production, Zinc DEFEND supports healthy skin, muscles, ligaments and tendons and can speed up the healing process when we get hurt. It can even help fight acne and other skin conditions.

Zinc Keeps Our Body’s Inflammation in Line

When our bodies are working well, inflammation is a vital response to acute trauma caused by an isolated injury or infection. In cases where redness, swelling and pain becomes chronic, however, it can lead to a host of serious health problems. Zinc acts as an anti-inflammatory that keeps your body’s response in proper proportion. Zinc MULTI DEFEND goes a step farther by supplementing zinc with elderberry, which is rich in anthocyanins that reduce inflammation and support cardiovascular health, inhibit cancer and improve brain function.

Zinc Supports Healthy Digestion

Of all the body’s cells that zinc supports, among the most important are those in our digestive system. Zinc helps keep the cells lining your intestinal tract in working order so your body can make good use of all the nutrients in the food you eat and the dietary supplements you take. Not enough zinc leads to a decline in overall gut health and specific problems including inflammation and diarrhea.

How to Get Enough Zinc

While our bodies can’t make zinc, the mineral is available through a variety of foods including fish, nuts, whole grains and poultry items such as eggs. You also can get all the zinc you need from a daily nutritional supplement.

Zinc DEFEND includes more than 100% of the daily recommended amount of zinc as well as healthy doses of Vitamin A and Vitamin C along with bee propolis, an anti-inflammatory that supports the immune system. Zinc MULTI DEFEND adds Vitamin D and Elderberry for even more natural antioxidants.

Altogether, the quick-dissolving lozenges that are made in the USA with real honey support the activity of more than 300 enzymes in the body. Zinc DEFEND and MULTI DEFEND lozenges can be taken every 2 hours, up to 12 lozenges per day for adults or 6 lozenges per day for children. Plus, they’re non-GMO, gluten-free, caffeine-free, sodium-free and allergen-free with no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners.