Copper is found in many foods, including liver, beans, seafood, meat, flour, soy flour, whole grains, wheat bran, avocados, almonds, garlic, barley, nuts, oats, lentils and beets. We can get it when we drink water from a copper pipe or when we use copper cookware, but the benefits can be lost if we store food in cans for a long period of time. That’s right, copper has many benefits, including boosting your immunity, reducing cholesterol, healing wounds and lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.
What is Copper?
Copper is found in the oxidized zones of copper deposits as well as in basalt cavities. It is a vital trace mineral important for our survival, helping the body form collagen and absorb iron. It also plays a role in energy production. Copper is found in our body in our muscles, kidneys, heart, brain and liver.
Copper Deficiency
Having a copper deficiency may result in the following:
- Anemia
- Birth defects
- Brittle bones
- Enlarged veins
- High cholesterol
- Irregular heartbeat
- Low body temperature
- Low white blood cell count
- Low skin pigmentation or coloring
- Low resistance to infections
- Osteoporosis
- Thyroid disorders
Additionally, other symptoms may occur including lethargy, paleness, edema, sores, stunted growth, anorexia, diarrhoea, hair loss or dermatitis.
Health Benefits of Copper
Here are some of the most amazing health benefits of copper:
Copper can cure arthritis. Copper contains anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the symptoms of arthritis. There are also copper bracelets that you can buy from the market to help with this!
One way to ingest copper is to store water in a copper container overnight before you drink it. It is important to drink the water when you wake up, because the copper can help strengthen your muscular system and be active for the rest of the day.
Copper can promote proper growth. Copper is important for our health and growth. Because copper helps your nervous, cardiovascular and skeletal systems, a lack of it will affect your tissues and organs.
Copper can help regulate melanin production. Melanin is what gives you eyes, skin and hair their colour. Copper is an important part of melanin production, so even taking copper supplements can help delay greying and other signs of aging.
Copper helps the skin. Copper helps produce hemoglobin, collagen, myelin, elastin and melanin. Elastin is what maintains the flexibility of the skin, keeping it from sagging and wrinkling.
Copper can help stimulate the brain. We call the foods that are rich in copper ‘brain foods.’ Still, it’s important to regulate your intake, as an excess of copper can also have harmful effects on your health.
Additional Health Benefits of Copper
Copper has co-enzymatic reactions. Copper can either be an element or a cofactor in many different enzymes. We need copper for these enzymes to work and function properly. If enzymatic reactions are not present, our metabolism can slow down.
Copper helps us absorb sugar and iron. Copper helps our bodies absorb iron from the intestinal tract. It also maintains our red blood cell count, sending them on their correct paths to different organs. A lack of iron can cause anemia, a dangerous disease which can lead to fatigue, muscle pains, weakness and digestive problems.
Copper can prevent premature aging. Copper contains antioxidants that safeguard cell membranes. Antioxidants also work to fight the free radicals that attack organs and cause the skin to age. Free radicals also make the body susceptible to cancer, kidney malfunctions and macular degeneration. When we consume copper, we can prevent these symptoms.
Copper can increase our energy. Copper an important energy storehouse, acting as a catalyst to reduce molecular oxygen to water. The enzymes produce an electrical gradient which emits the vital energy we function with.
Copper can prevent the growth of bacteria. According to studies, copper can prevent the growth of E Coli. Furthermore, copper can help boost our immune system and help fight infections.
Copper can improve thyroid function. Copper is important to the thyroid gland, but it can also harm it. If there is an imbalance in hormonal activity, you can develop hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
