Get Plenty of Zinc

When your body is running low on zinc, your metabolism may slow down. That’s because this mineral is one of the main regulators of blood sugar and carbohydrate levels, and without it, insulin levels can spike. Zinc also transports unnecessary carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs, protects your sense of taste and smell, and assists with the products of RNA and DNA. If you prefer not to take a zinc supplement (which if you do, should not exceed 40 milligrams), you can dine on red meat, seeds, nuts, and wheat products. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may require more.