You may have heard that zinc, among other things, helps people recover from colds or other illnesses, but this mineral is also needed by those who are not sick and do not have a weakened immune system. As an essential mineral, zinc should be consumed in small amounts each day to maintain overall health and perform hundreds of important functions. What are the benefits of taking zinc, as well as eating foods high in zinc? Zinc benefits the body in many ways – for example helping with hormone production, proper growth and repair, improving immunity and normal digestion. It also has the ability to act as an anti-inflammatory agent, which means it can have significant therapeutic benefits for several chronic diseases, such as cancer or heart disease. So ask yourself: