| Benefits: Necessary for red blood cell formation, promotes strong veins, essential for connective tissue formation.
Good food sources: Nuts, honey, shell fish, salmon, honey, whole grains, dried beans, mushrooms, lobsters, red meat.
Cautions: Don't take if you have Wilson's disease.
Substance interactions: These may reduce absorption of copper: cadmium, fiber, mega-doses of vitamin C, zinc. Oral contraceptives increases copper level in body.
Signs of toxicity: Vomiting, nausea, muscle aches, anemia.
* Aids in the formation of connective tissue, in the production
of neurochemicals in the brain, and in the functioning of muscles,
nerves and the immune system. Maintains healthy and strong arteries
and veins.
* Copper is vital in the building of connective tissues by combining
collagen and elastin. It also interacts beneficially with iron
to form hemoglobin, so a copper deficiency eventually leads to
an iron deficiency, anemia.
* It is recommended not to exceed 3 mg of copper per day. However,
if taking zinc supplements, copper supplements may be needed at
a ratio of 1 mg of copper for each 10 mg of zinc taken, as zinc
hinders copper absorption. Don't take more than 30 mg of zinc without a doctor's approval.
* In studies, animals deficient in copper suffer from weakened
hearts and blood vessels, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis.
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