TRACE MINERALS

COPPER
DOSE 1.5 to 3 milligrams
The Body Contains 50 to 120 milligrams
Copper enter the body from the stomach and upper intestine

Copper is excreted from the body by the liver and bile. Both copper and zinc  are involved in the enzyme  called superoxide dismutase (SOD) There are several different types of (SOD) superoxide dismutase enzymes containing different trace minerals.

Copper acts as a catalyst in the formation of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying blood component. The highest concentrations in the body tissue are found in the liver and certain areas of the central nervous system, particularly the  brain.

Copper is stored in the liver and excreted in bile salts.

Minerals including copper must be bound to a protein to be usable. Biounavailable means the mineral is present, but in a form that is unsuitable for the body.

What Copper does in the body:

• Helps oxidize glucose and release energy.

• Helps the body absorb iron.

• Aids the thyroid gland in balancing and secreting hormones.

• Carries oxygen in the blood stream.

• Supplies the body's tissues with oxygen

• Increases the body's energy levels.

• Aids in nerve and brain function

• Needed for the functioning of the amino acid, tyrosine.

• Essential for making red blood cells.

• Helps the body absorb iron.

• Helps tyrosine work as a pigment factor

• Helps supply oxygen to the brain.

• Enzyme component

• Necessary for the synthesis of the hormone adrenaline.

• Associated with intestinal enzyme activity.

• Acts as a brain stimulant

• Copper antagonizes manganese ions.

• Copper level in the body parallels estrogen levels.

• Copper is a natural yeast fighter

• Copper improves epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine.

Physical Symptoms of Low Copper:

• Not enough oxygen in the cells

• Lowered levels of HDL cholesterol

• Skin problems

• Swollen ankles

• Anemia

• Low copper causes the cells to suffocate and lack oxygen

• Low copper levels linked to low enkephalins produced in the brain.

Psychological Symptoms of Low Copper:

• Auditory hallucinations

• Depression

• Binge eaters have been found to have lower levels.

Causes of Low Copper:

• Refining white flour

• Alkaline medium inhibits copper.

• Copper deficiency occurs as a result of the administration of total parenteral nutrition (Nutritional intravenous feeding).

• Excess accumulates in liver, kidneys and brain.

• Phytates hinder absorption

• High levels of zinc, iron, calcium and manganese interfere with copper absorption

THE MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT CAUSES LOW COPPER:

Conditions are rare, but common in infants who are premature.

Menkes' syndrome is a hereditary disorder causing copper deficiency. Symptoms: kinky hair, mental retardation, and low copper level in the blood and a failure to synthesize the enzymes that require copper.

HIGH COPPER

Copper levels are more often too high than too low. High copper can be toxic.

Physical Symptoms of High Copper:

• Headaches

• Hypoglycemia

• Increased heart rate

• Nausea

• Copper deposits in the brain and liver causing damage.

• Damage to the kidneys

• Inhibit urine production

• Causes anemia

• Causes hair loss in women

High copper interferes with zinc, which is needed to manufacture digestive enzymes. Many high copper people dislike protein and are drawn to high-carbohydrate diets because they have difficulty digesting protein foods.

Excessive copper in children is associated with hyperactive behavior, learning disorders such as dyslexia, ADD and infections such as ear.

Psychological Symptoms of High Copper:

Autism type symptoms

• Depression

• Hallucinations

• Hyperactivity

• Insomnia

• Paranoia

• Personality changes

• Psychosis

• Schizophrenic type symptoms

• Overstimulation

• Disperception of the senses, time, body, self and others.

• Produces hypomanic states

• Detachment from reality

Causes of High Copper:

• Excess estrogen in the meat supply (estrogen used as a growth hormone in the meat industry was discontinued in the 80's and replaced with testosterone, etc.)

• Birth control pill

• Use of prescription medications containing copper.

• Smoking

• Too much copper in drinking water

• Zinc and manganese deficiency raises copper levels.

• Copper lowers the histamine levels.

• It takes 3 months to lower the level in the body.

THE MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE HIGH COPPER:

Wilson's Disease is a condition that causes copper to accumulate in the tissues and cause extensive damage. Affects 1 in 30,000 people. The liver does not secrete copper into the blood or excrete copper into the bile. Low blood levels, high in the brain, eyes and liver causes cirrhosis. First symptoms: brain damage, tremors, headaches, inability to speak, incoordination and psychosis.

Treatment:

The administration of total parenteral nutrition (nutritional intravenous feeding). An important way to reduce high copper levels is to enhance the activity of the adrenal glands. The adrenals cause the liver to secrete ceruloplasmin, which binds and removes copper. Adrenal underactivity causes a deficiency of available copper, and allows unbound copper to build up in the tissues. Adrenal glandular substance is also frequently helpful. Exercise temporarily stimulates the adrenals, which helps eliminate copper. One needs to keep exercising or the copper toxicity symptoms, fatigue, mood swings and depression will return.Temporary controls; coffee, caffeine in soda and some drugs

Copper Food Sources:

• Whole grain cereals

• Legumes

• Oysters

• Organ meats

• Cherries

• Dark chocolate

• Fruits

• Leafy green vegetables

• Nuts

• Poultry

• Prunes

• Soybeans

• Tofu

• Organ meats,

• Shellfish,

• Nuts

• Legumes

Nutrient partners:

• Works with iron, zinc, manganese and B-6

• Needed in the utilization of Vitamin C

• Should be balanced with zinc in a 1:10 ratio

• Copper and pantothenic acid are related to hair color.

• Excess copper destroys Vitamin C.

• Necessary for the absorption of iron.

• Found in copper plumbing, vitamin and mineral pills, tea bags, cooking utensils

• Zinc, manganese, vitamin C and B-6, folic acid, sulfur and molybdenum are also copper antagonists, chelators or binders.

Copper has been used to Successfully treat:

• Auditory Hallucinations

• Depression

• Histaperia Schizophrenia

COPPER STUDIES AND REFERENCES

"Copper and zinc deficiencies in association with depression and neurological findings." Hansen C.R. Jr., Biological Psychiatry 18 (3): p. 395-401 1983

Study revealed that zinc and copper deficiencies in depression and auditory hallucinations improved in 2 months with Copper sulfate 10 milligrams daily. Once the copper treatment stopped the symptoms returned.

"Copper toxicity syndrome." Nolan K.R., Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry 12: p. 270-82, 1983

Excessive copper and zinc levels may cause brain dysfunction.

"Levels of copper and zinc in depression." Narang R.L., Gupta K.R., Narang H.P., Singh R., Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology October 1991

Copper levels in depressed patients were higher than those in the same patients after they had recovered from depression.

"A copper Deficiency Anemia is Indistinguishable Haematologically from that of an Iron Deficiency Anemia." Lahey F. Clinical Significance of the Essential Biological Metals p. 57 1975

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol 43 p. 42 Jan 1986 Bhathena S.J. et al

Copper deficiencies can result in low endorphin levels in the brain.

Festa M.D., et al American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 41, p. 285, Feb 1985

Low copper intake encourages high levels of cholesterol. Giving copper without zinc can make copper problems even worse.

Fields M., et al Nutrition Reports International, vol. 34 no. 6 p. 1071 Dec 1986

Britannica vol 3 p. 612-613

The higher the intake of sugar, the lower the absorption of copper. - Fields M. et al Nutrition Reports International, vol 34. no. 6 p. 1071 Dec. 1986

The higher the intake of sugar, the lower the absorption efficiency for copper. Copper is important in a variety of brain functions, including energy metabolism and creation of red blood cells for oxygen transport. - Bhathena S.J. et al American Journal of Clinical Nutrition vol. 43, p. 42 Jan 1986

Copper is involved in the production of enkephalins. Copper intake in America is about half of the RDA. Researchers fed 24 male subjects low copper diets and found a closely tied drop in the levels of enkephalins (the internally produced substances that provide us with pain relief and pleasure) that were produced in the brain. - Journal of the American Medical Assoc. 224: 1578 (1973)

"A study of zinc deficiency and copper excess in the schizophrenias." Pfeiffer C. and Iliev V., Intern Rev of Neurobiol 141-185 1972

"Respiratory burst and candidacidal activity of peritoneal macrophages are  impaired in copper-deficient rats." Babu U., Failla M.L., Journal of Nutrition, 1990 Dec. 120 (12): 1692-1699

In rats, a copper-deficient diet resulted in reduced resistance to candida cells. Rats fed a diet with adequate copper, by contrast, had better systemic defenses against candida.  

An Important Note to Our Readers:
The information contained within this website is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended for the treatment, cure, diagnosis, or mitigation of a disease or condition. If you have any medical conditions or are taking any prescription or nonprescription medications, see your physician before altering or discontinuing the use of medications. Persons with potentially serious medical conditions should seek professional care. No therapeutic or medical claims have been implied or made.

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