Breast feeding mothers need extra zinc in their diet. Breast milk contains over 2mg of zinc in the first four months and women need an extra 6mg a day to cover these demands. Breast feeding women must include a generous serving of at least one good source of zinc in their diet each day. The iron supplements routinely prescribed for pregnant women when there is no sign of anaemia may compromise zinc status. This is because the interactions between essential minerals are complex and too much of one may cause an imbalance of another.
Excess zinc is toxic.
Too much zinc will interfere with the metabolism of other minerals in the body, particularly iron and copper. Symptoms of zinc toxicity occur after ingestion of 2g of or more and include nausea, vomiting and fever. The Leisure and Lifestyle Directory - for all commercial products and services related to vegetarianism.