Dr. Ravi Kumar is a board-certified neurosurgeon and assistant...
Longevity@longevitymediaa
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Oct 25, 2026
~3 min read
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Dr. Ravi Kumar is a board-certified neurosurgeon and assistant professor of neurosurgery at UNC, and he just told the story of a 21 year old man who looked like a child.
Here are the 10 shocking things he exposed about zinc (THREAD):
(1/10) It moves your blood sugar
Here are the 10 shocking things he exposed about zinc (THREAD):
(1/10) It moves your blood sugar
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Dr. Eric Berg DC@dr_ericberg
Zinc plays an important role in sleep by supporting the production of dopamine, serotonin, melatonin, and glutamate. Low zinc may contribute to trouble falling asleep or getting deep, restorative rest.
Dr. Eric Berg, DC, not MD; information only
Dr. Eric Berg, DC, not MD; information only
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A 2019 meta analysis of 25 randomised trials found that 20 to 50mg a day lowered fasting glucose by 13 mg/dL.
Hemoglobin A1C fell by 0.35.
Hemoglobin A1C fell by 0.35.
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(2/10) Two billion people are deficient
That is roughly a quarter of the global population.
He says they live with impaired immunity and hormone dysregulation, often without realising it.
That is roughly a quarter of the global population.
He says they live with impaired immunity and hormone dysregulation, often without realising it.
0:15
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(3/10) He grew 15cm in a single year
In 1960s Iran, the researcher Ananda Prasad met a 21 year old who looked no older than ten, living mostly on whole wheat bread and eating nearly a pound of clay a day.
A year on zinc brought 15cm of growth and full puberty.
In 1960s Iran, the researcher Ananda Prasad met a 21 year old who looked no older than ten, living mostly on whole wheat bread and eating nearly a pound of clay a day.
A year on zinc brought 15cm of growth and full puberty.
0:54
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(4/10) It worked on a whole cohort
Prasad went on to treat growth stunted children in Egypt.
They averaged 15cm in six months and entered puberty after long delays.
Prasad went on to treat growth stunted children in Egypt.
They averaged 15cm in six months and entered puberty after long delays.
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(5/10) One micronutrient cured a fatal disease
Acrodermatitis enteropathica was universally fatal, and doctors watched babies die of it.
Barnes and Moynahan dosed one child with zinc and her symptoms completely reversed.
Acrodermatitis enteropathica was universally fatal, and doctors watched babies die of it.
Barnes and Moynahan dosed one child with zinc and her symptoms completely reversed.
0:47
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(6/10) Zinc runs over 300 enzymes
He says it sits at the very root of gene expression:
- Powers over 300 enzymes
- Supports over 1,000 transcription factors
- Folds proteins into zinc fingers
He says it sits at the very root of gene expression:
- Powers over 300 enzymes
- Supports over 1,000 transcription factors
- Folds proteins into zinc fingers
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(7/10) It gates your testosterone
The final enzyme that builds testosterone has a zinc binding site, and without zinc it misfolds.
Zinc also acts upstream in the hypothalamus, so it holds both ends of the pathway.
The final enzyme that builds testosterone has a zinc binding site, and without zinc it misfolds.
Zinc also acts upstream in the hypothalamus, so it holds both ends of the pathway.
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(8/10) 45mg cut infections by 66%
In a double blind trial, older adults taking 45mg a day averaged 0.29 infections a year against 1.4 on placebo.
A week at 30mg also raised natural killer cell killing power 40% in healthy adults.
In a double blind trial, older adults taking 45mg a day averaged 0.29 infections a year against 1.4 on placebo.
A week at 30mg also raised natural killer cell killing power 40% in healthy adults.
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(9/10) The RDA is not the optimum
The official figures are 11mg for men and 8mg for women, set to prevent deficiency rather than support function.
He puts the optimal range at 15 to 20mg, where absorption plateaus per dose.
The official figures are 11mg for men and 8mg for women, set to prevent deficiency rather than support function.
He puts the optimal range at 15 to 20mg, where absorption plateaus per dose.
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(10/10) Your oats lock the zinc away
Phytates in grains and legumes bind zinc into complexes your gut cannot absorb.
Absorption runs about 21% from oysters, 11% at moderate phytate intake, and as low as 4% from wheat, oats and rice.
Phytates in grains and legumes bind zinc into complexes your gut cannot absorb.
Absorption runs about 21% from oysters, 11% at moderate phytate intake, and as low as 4% from wheat, oats and rice.
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The fix is cheap on both sides.
Soaking grains eight to twelve hours activates an enzyme that breaks phytates down, and two oysters at 8 to 12mg each cover a whole day.
The ceiling is 40mg a day from supplements, and he says long-term use above it impairs copper status.
Soaking grains eight to twelve hours activates an enzyme that breaks phytates down, and two oysters at 8 to 12mg each cover a whole day.
The ceiling is 40mg a day from supplements, and he says long-term use above it impairs copper status.
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TLDR:
1. 25 trials, lower blood sugar
2. Two billion are deficient
3. He grew 15cm in a year
4. Egypt cohort grew too
5. It cured a fatal disease
6. Over 300 enzymes need it
7. It gates testosterone
8. 45mg, 66% fewer
9. Optimal is 15 to 20mg
10. Oats lock the zinc away
1. 25 trials, lower blood sugar
2. Two billion are deficient
3. He grew 15cm in a year
4. Egypt cohort grew too
5. It cured a fatal disease
6. Over 300 enzymes need it
7. It gates testosterone
8. 45mg, 66% fewer
9. Optimal is 15 to 20mg
10. Oats lock the zinc away
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I appreciate you making it to the end.
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More content just like this coming out every day.
If you want to learn about how to live longer, healthier and with more energy, give me a follow.
More content just like this coming out every day.
Longevity@longevitymediaa
Dr. Ravi Kumar is a board-certified neurosurgeon and assistant professor of neurosurgery at UNC, and he just told the story of a 21 year old man who looked like a child.
Here are the 10 shocking things he exposed about zinc (THREAD):
(1/10) It moves your blood sugar
Here are the 10 shocking things he exposed about zinc (THREAD):
(1/10) It moves your blood sugar
15
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