Advantages: (1)Zinc gluconate is always lower in cadmium than all other forms of zinc supplements. (2)No copper has been added. Like iron, manganese, and aluminum, copper is a pro-oxidant that, in excess, will damage every cell in our bodies and increase our risk of death from heart disease, cancer, and a dozen other killer diseases. (3)The price is affordable. (4)Absorption is adequate. Zinc gluconate is not as well-absorbed as zinc monomethionine, chelated zinc, or zinc picolinate but it is absorbed as well or better than all of the remaining zinc choices. Disadvantages: (1)If you swallow exactly 1 tablet of zinc gluconate 50mg per day, then you don't need to worry about copper deficiency. However, if you swallow more than 1 tablet per day, then make sure that your diet includes foods that are rich in copper. THE BIG PICTURE: Like selenium, zinc is a beneficial antioxidant. Calcium (from calcium carbonate tablets) is also a beneficial antioxidant but only while it travels through our digestive tract. Once absorbed into our bloodstream, calcium will, in excess, increase our risk of cardiovascular problems and prostate cancer. Anyhow, zinc has been shown in scientific studies to be helpful against the common cold, influenza, Pneumonia, diarrhea, and other immune system problems. To improve the performance of zinc, eat dried olive leaves (best), drink olive leaf tea, drink Bruce Barlean's olive leaf extract, swallow oleuropein/olive leaf extract capsules, or use extra virgin olive oil. Other helpful tactics: Breathe hot air, swallow Loperamide (anti-diarrheal), swallow vitamin C (to boost blood glutathione levels by 50%), and eat lots of green vegetables. However, swallow your zinc tablets away from all plant foods because the very beneficial antioxidant, phytate, which is in most plants, will block the absorption of about half of the zinc in zinc tablets