Home :: Copper

Copper- Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms And Food Sources

Acid/Alkaline :: Alkaline -forming

What is copper?

Copper is an essential trace mineral. Copper is involved in the absorption and metabolism of iron. Copper helps keep your arteries flexible. This mineral helps transport oxygen through your body, maintain hair color, and is used to make hormones. In fact, for a variety of biochemical processes in the body to operate normally, copper must be a part of our die.

Uses and Benefits of Copper

• Copper is necessary for the growth, development, and maintenance of bone, connective tissue, brain, heart, and many other body organs.
• Copper is involved in the formation of red blood cells, the absorption and utilization of iron, and the synthesis and release of life-sustaining proteins and enzymes
• It is involved in the healing process, energy production, hair and skin coloring, and taste sensitivity.
• Essential to catecholamine synthesis.
• Copper is a component of the antioxidant enzyme: super oxide dismutase, and might protect cell membranes from potential damage by highly reactive oxygen fragments. In this antioxidant role, copper might function to prevent the development of cancer.
• It is also essential for the utilization of vitamin C .

Recommended Dosage of Copper

The Recommended Daily Allowance for Copper are :

• Adults - 1.5 to 3.0 milligrams per day.
• Children - 1.5 to 2.5 milligrams per day.
• Infants less than six month - 0.4 to 0.6 milligrams per day.

Deficiency Symptoms of Copper

Copper settles in brain and ovaries. Can cause chronic diarrhea, burning sensation in throat and tonsils, malabsorption problems, or iron-deficiency anemia. Also loss of color from skin and hair (inability of body to manufacture collagen), baldness, heart disease, Menkes' Syndrome, nervous system impairment, low resistance to infection, scoliosis, poor tissue formation, impaired respiration, skin sores, retardation.

Toxicity: Symptoms can include ulcerative colitis, Wilson's Disease. Mental and emotional problems.

Note: Daily intake of more than 20 mg. can cause nausea and vomiting

Rich Food Sources of Copper

Dark green leafy vegetables, raisins, radishes, nuts (especially almonds) oranges, blacks trap molasses, avocados, and broccoli.

Toxic sources: Copper water pipes and cooking utensils.

Note: Long-term uses of oral contraceptives can upset the balance of copper in the body causing excessively high cholesterol levels. Supplementation should always be administered under a doctor's supervision and caution should be exercised not to exceed the recommended doses. If supplements are to be taken, the doctor and consumer alike should become aware that different forms of copper have different absorption rates in the body.