Our bodies need zinc for lots of different functions, including fighting infection, growth and speeding up reactions. It is possible to get all the zinc you need from eating a varied and balanced vegan diet.
Recommended intakes
For adults in the UK, recommended daily zinc intakes are 7mg (milligrams) for women and 9.5mg for men. These recommendations are based on the assumption that zinc losses are higher in men, taking into account losses via skin, hair and semen.
Sources of zinc
Sources of zinc include beans, chickpeas, lentils, tofu, walnuts, cashew nuts, chia seeds, ground linseed, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, wholemeal bread and quinoa. Ensure that your daily diet contains plenty of zinc-rich foods.
Need more information? Read our detailed PDF.
You can compare your diet to our guidelines using the free VNutrition app. Please note – our VNutrition app requires an update to ensure its compatible on the latest devices, therefore it is temporarily unavailable. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. In the meantime, please visit our meal planning checklist, which can help you to ensure that your nutrition is on track.
These are general guidelines about nutrition. If you have concerns about your diet, please talk to your doctor about seeing a dietitian.
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