Copper
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Some interesting facts about copper:
- Copper is a trace mineral
Copper is one of the trace minerals, which means only a small amount of it is required in the diet to ensure good health. - Copper is required for iron metabolism
Copper is needed to help the body metabolise and use iron. In this way, copper works together with iron to ensure that the haemoglobin is healthy and can carry sufficient amounts of oxygen to all the cells in the body to enable cell respiration. - Processed foods may reduce copper absorption
Processed foods may inhibit the proper absorption of copper, so a diet high in processed foods is not advised, to ensure correct copper absorption.
Copper is needed to help the body metabolise and use iron. In this way, copper works together with iron to ensure that the haemoglobin is healthy and can carry sufficient amounts of oxygen to all the cells in the body
- Processed foods may reduce copper absorption
Processed foods may inhibit the proper absorption of copper, so a diet high in processed foods is not advised, to ensure correct copper absorption. - High levels of zinc and vitamin C can block copper absorption
High levels of either zinc or vitamin C can block absorption and therefore blood levels of copper in the body. People taking either of these supplements need to take a copper supplement to enable correct copper levels in the body and balance the levels of all these nutrients to be more normalised. - Copper levels increase in certain health conditions
Research shows that blood copper levels may increase in people with the following health conditions - rheumatoid arthritis, cirrhosis of the liver, heart attack, schizophrenia and tumours. - Copper levels decrease in certain health conditions
Research also shows that blood copper levels may decrease in people with the following health conditions - hypothyroidism, kwashiorkor, leukopenia, nephrosis, neutropenia and sprue.