What is the role of Copper in our body?

Did you know copper? Copper is a chemical element, it is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; it is used as a conductor of heat and electricity, a building material, and a constituent of various metal alloys. But copper has also a biological role, it is good in our body, besides iron and zinc, copper is the third most abundant mineral in the body. It is found in all tissues, but is stored primarily in the liver.

Copper is a key mineral in many different body systems, is central to building strong tissue, maintaining blood volume, and producing energy in your cells.

In the foods we commonly eat, there are only very small amounts of copper. As much as any dietary mineral, the amount of copper you eat is directly related to the amounts of minimally processed plant foods you get every day.


What copper do in our body?

• Copper offers both internal and external benefits. Getting enough copper is quite important to good health.
• Copper acts as an effective antioxidant. It works to remove free radicals and is useful in preventing cell damage.
• Copper plays a major role in cardiovascular health. It offers protection from heart disease; helps regulate cholesterol levels; and stops the formation of clots.
• Copper prevents hardening of the arteries.
• Antioxidant Protection, Copper is a co-factor for an enzyme called superoxide dismutase (SOD), one of the major antioxidant enzymes in the body.
• Bone and Tissue Integrity, Copper is required to manufacture collagen, the major structural protein of the body.
• Energy Support, Copper plays two key roles in energy production. First, it helps with incorporation of iron into red blood cells, preventing anemia. Second, it is involved with generation of energy from carbohydrates inside of cells.

Several Food Sources of Copper.

Shrimp, Turnip greens and asparagus are excellent vegetable sources of copper, crimini mushrooms and blackstrap molasses as excellent sources of copper.
Legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. For example, flax seeds, walnuts, and garbanzo beans are rated as very good sources of copper. Liver, bone marrow and chicken feet. Copper can also be taken as a supplement. However, if considering copper supplements, just ask your doctor.


Copper deficiency.

A copper deficiency is associated with various health problems. The recommended daily amount of copper is 0.9 to 1.3 mg/day in adults. A copper deficiency causes anemia since it helps in the absorption of iron. Premature graying and hair loss are said to result from insufficient copper. It is believed that gray hair can be reversed with enough copper in the body. Other symptoms include sores of the skin, joint and bone problems, weak blood vessels, irregular heartbeat and difficulty in breathing.


Copper toxicity.

Gram quantities of various copper salts have been taken in suicide attempts and produced acute copper toxicity in humans, possibly due to redox cycling and the generation of reactive oxygen species that damage DNA.

Copper is a mineral that should not be neglected in a healthy eating lifestyle. It clearly has important benefits to the body and should be a part of a strategy for lifelong health.

Source: Wikipedia, whfoods Yahoo.