7 Zinc Benefits Every Woman Should Know About by Women's Health You've heard about zinc before, but do you know what it does for your health? Yeah, thought so. For starters, zinc is a trace mineral, meaning you only need to consume very small quantities in order to be healthy. "Women 19 years and older need eight milligrams of zinc daily, a pregnant woman needs 11 milligrams, and a breastfeeding woman needs 12 milligrams," says Amy Gorin, R.D.N., owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition in the New York City area. "Zinc is so often overlooked because it occurs in really small quantities," says Amanda Bontempo, M.S., R.D. You don't need to consume much daily, even though it has so many benefits and profoundly affects how your body works, she adds. "But because you need so little of it, it doesn't take more than a mild zinc deficiency to affect you." 1. Zinc helps you maintain a healthy immune system. "Zinc helps defend against toxins an...