Transitional Metal: Zinc

Zinc, in commerce also spelter, is a metallic chemical element. It has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element of group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is the 24th most abundant element in the Earth's crust and has five stable isotopes. The largest mineable amounts are found in Australia, Asia, and the United States. 

Zinc is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism. It is required for the catalytic activity of approximately 100 enzymes, and it plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. Zinc also supports normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence and is required for proper sense of taste and smell. A daily intake of zinc is required to maintain a steady state because the body has no specialized zinc storage system.

Sources of Zinc

A wide variety of foods contain zinc. Oysters contain more zinc per serving than any other food, but red meat and poultry provide the majority of zinc in the American diet. Other good food sources include beans, nuts, certain types of seafood (such as crab and lobster), whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, and dairy products.

Phytates—which are present in whole-grain breads, cereals, legumes, and other foods—bind zinc and inhibit its absorption. Thus, the bioavailability of zinc from grains and plant foods is lower than that from animal foods, although many grain- and plant-based foods are still good sources of zinc--especially if soaked and sprouted before cooked or eaten.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/