All living things, including people, need zinc in their diets. Getting too little of this essential metal can impair growth and cause immune dysfunction, neurological disorders and cancer.

Every living organism uses tiny quantities of metals to carry out biological functions, including breathing, transcribing DNA, turning food into energy, or any number of essential life processes.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A protein called ZNG1 helps cells make use of zinc when stores of this essential nutrient are running low. bagi1998/E+ via Getty ...