What Foods Have Zinc and Cobalt in Them?

Shellfish
Poultry and Red Meat
Dairy Products
Eggs

Written by Suzanne Allen

01 September, 2011

Fact Checked

Zinc aids in cellular and immune functioning and growth and development. Cobalt enters the body in the form of vitamin B-12, present in most animal products, and aids in the production of red blood cells. Cobalt serves similar functions as zinc and can replace zinc in various enzymatic processes. While no recommended dietary allowance is established for cobalt, the recommended daily allowance for zinc is 11 mg for men and 8 mg for women with the upper limit set at 40 mg, according to Linus Pauling Institute. Consuming at least 2.8 µg of vitamin B-12 daily can ensure you are ingesting enough cobalt.

Shellfish

One of the best sources of zinc and vitamin B-12 is shellfish. Six medium-sized oysters, the richest source of zinc, contain 76.3 mg of zinc and 30 µg of vitamin B-12, according to Linus Pauling Institute and University of Florida 1 2 3. A 3-oz. serving of crab contains 4.7 mg of zinc and 8.8 µg of vitamin B-12. Other shellfish rich in zinc and vitamin B-12 include shrimp, clams, mussels and lobster.

One of the best sources of zinc and vitamin B-12 is shellfish.
Other shellfish rich in zinc and vitamin B-12 include shrimp, clams, mussels and lobster.

Poultry and Red Meat

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Poultry is excellent sources of zinc and vitamin B-12. A 3-oz. serving of dark-meat chicken and turkey contains 1.8 and 3.8 mg of zinc, respectively, and 0.3 µg of vitamin B-12, according to Linus Pauling Institute. Red meats, such as beef and pork, provide significant quantities of zinc and vitamin B-12. A 3-oz. serving of beef provides 6 mg of zinc and 2.1 µg of vitamin B-12, while a 3-oz. serving of pork contains 2.2 mg of zinc and 0.51 µg of vitamin B-12.

Poultry is excellent sources of zinc and vitamin B-12.
serving of dark-meat chicken and turkey contains 1.8 and 3.8 mg of zinc, respectively, and 0.3 µg of vitamin B-12, according to Linus Pauling Institute.

Dairy Products

Dairy products provide adequate quantities of zinc and vitamin B-12. Certain cheeses, such as:

ricotta
Swiss
cheddar
brie
gouda
are rich in zinc
as well as vitamin B-12

One ounce of cheddar cheese provides 0.9 mg of zinc and 0.24 µg of vitamin B-12. One cup, or 8 oz., of fruit yogurt contains 1.8 mg of zinc and 1.3 µg of vitamin B-12. One cup of milk includes 1.8 mg of zinc and 0.9 µg of vitamin B-12, according to Linus Pauling Institute.

Dairy products provide adequate quantities of zinc and vitamin B-12.
One cup of milk includes 1.8 mg of zinc and 0.9 µg of vitamin B-12, according to Linus Pauling Institute.

Eggs

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Eggs are an animal byproduct, which indicates the presence of vitamin B-12. One cooked egg contains 0.5 µg of vitamin B-12, according to Northwestern University 2. Additionally, eggs provide significant quantities of zinc. One large, raw egg provides 2.7 mg of zinc and 3.13 µg of vitamin B-12, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center 2 4.