Health Benefits

Health Benefits of Copper

The first recorded medical uses of copper are found in the Smith Papyrus, an Egyptian medical text, written between 2600 and 2200 B.C. It is one of the oldest written books known to mankind.

The use of copper for good health and vitality is widely acknowledged in Ayurveda (meaning ‘The Science of Life’ in Sanskrit). This knowledge is 5000 years old and is still practiced in India today. The Indians believe that drinking water from copper vessels helps to balance all three doshas and boosts the immune system by positively charging the water and making it alkaline. 

To this day, modern scientific clinical research trials have re-discovered the many beneficial attributes copper has on our health and the multitude of essential functions that it plays in our daily health and well being. Deficiency in copper can be attributed to many modern day chronic diseases including osteoporosis, neurodegeneration diseases such as Alzheimer's and Dementia, and heart disease. It is currently being studied in clinical trials as a possible cancer treatment and may soon be available in an upgraded anti-inflammatory for arthritis sufferers in conjunction with ibuprofen.

The following information is not to be taken as medical advice, it is intended to be informative only. If you believe that you may be suffering from copper deficiency please speak to your local GP. Taking copper supplements can lead to copper toxicity therefore please do not take more than the recommended daily allowance. Vegans and vegetarians should not take copper supplements at all as their diet has more than sufficient daily levels of copper and further supplementation would lead to a deficiency of zinc. Women who use the contraceptive coil should also refrain from increasing their copper intake and instead ensure that they have plenty zinc in their diet to re-balance their zinc/copper ratio.

Copper can be safely absorbed through the skin and there are health benefits of doing so, however this method does take months before one can observe the benefits of doing so. Unless there are gastrointestinal absorption issues, the quickest and safest way to increase one's copper intake is through a healthy, balanced, organic diet. 

Health Benefits Related to Adequate Copper Levels in the Body

Healthy Immune System

When a person catches a cold or the flu the level of copper in their blood will triple in response. Good levels of copper in the blood are a seen as a good indicator of an active immune system.

 In 1867 it was reported that, during the cholera epidemics in Paris of 1832, 1849 and 1852, copper workers were immune to the disease. More recently copper's role in the immune system has been supported by observations that individuals suffering from Menke's disease (an inherited disease in which there is defective copper absorption and metabolism) generally die of immune system-related phenomena and other infections. Further, animals deficient in copper have been shown to have increased susceptibility to bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella and Listeria. These types of examples of copper's relationship with the immune system has led researchers to suggest strongly that copper compounds not only cure disease but also aid in the prevention of disease.

Anti-aging

Copper is an antioxidant that can improve the condition of your skin. It aids in the production of new cells, replenishing the top layer of your skin to produce a smooth and clear appearance. It safeguards your cell membranes from free radicals and helps your skin produce collagen and elastin to prevent premature aging and promote skin elasticity. Copper deficiency can also lead to premature grey hair. The Egyptian rulers Cleopatra and Nefertiti are known to have used copper to prolong their youthful appearance.

Healthy Glowing Skin

Copper is essential for the production of melanin, which provides pigment and sun protection to your skin and gives your skin a healthy glow. Without sufficient levels of copper in the body it is difficult to tan regardless of time spent in the sunshine and there is a much higher risk of the skin burning and forming cancerous melanomas.

Antibacterial, Antiviral & Antifungal

While bacteria and viruses can survive on chrome and plastic surfaces for days, on copper surfaces they are 95% wiped out within a matter of minutes and completely virus free within a few hours. Copper destroys and inhibits the growth of microbes, fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Copper taps and copper infused clothing are popular in hospitals for this reason. A study trial also found that army personnel who were given copper infused socks did not suffer from the commonly endured athlete’s foot. The U.S. EPA found copper to be the only solid material that can the kill bacteria that poses a threat to human health. 

Cognitive Stimulant 

Copper opens neural pathways and encourages creativity and improved brain functioning. In short, it makes your brain work faster and more efficiently. Brain fog and neurological problems are known symptoms of copper deficiency. Prolonged copper deficient diets can lead to epilepsy. Copper also has convulsion preventative properties and it has been observed that copper complexes of all anti-epileptic drugs are more effective and less toxic than their parent drugs.

Anti-Inflammatory

Copper can be used to provide relief from aches and pains caused by arthritis or inflamed joints and can reduce the likelihood of developing chronic illnesses caused by long term inflammation in the body. In recent times it has been added to NSAIDs and it has been suggested that copper complexes of anti-inflammatory drugs such as copper ibuprofenate are more active and produce fewer gastrointestinal side-effects than the parent drug ibuprofen.

Reduces Cholesterol and Prevents Heart Disease

Copper can reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) and triglyceride levels, and increase HDL cholesterol (the good kind). Having more good than bad cholesterol can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes. Copper helps crosslink collagen, elastin and fibres in the body. These elastin fibres cover the aorta and surrounding regions. Copper, thus, strengthens these fibres and prevents acute aortic aneurysms. 

Increases Energy 

Copper facilitates the body’s absorption and release of iron, helping to increase physical energy. Copper deficiency is  often misdiagnosed as anemia or B12 deficiency as the symptoms are very similar. 

Improves Circulation

Copper regulates blood flow and improves circulation by maintaining iron levels in the blood. This aids the body in maintaining a healthy red blood cell count and adequate oxidation in the internal organs.

Improves Digestion

Copper can aid in the digestion of food, break down fats and reduce inflammation in the stomach.


Copper is also connected to healthy weight loss due to this function in the body.

Prevention of Bone Loss 

In conjunction with minerals including zinc, calcium and manganese, copper helps to prevent bone loss.


Copper has bone-strengthening properties and its collagen-forming qualities encourage strong bones and connective tissues.



In infants and children copper deficiency can lead to skeletal fragility.

Anti-Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, copper has considerable anti-cancer effects and it is being studied as to how it can be used in cancer treatment.


Also, copper’s antioxidant properties fight off free radicals, which are a cause of cancer.

Increasing Copper Intake Safely

Copper toxicity is very rare and most often tends to be related to genetic conditions such as Wilson Disease, or industrial or farm operations contamination of food and drinking water or corroded copper pipes. It is however, possible to achieve toxic levels by taking copper supplements for a long period of time whilst also being deficient in zinc so it is important to ensure that if you are supplementing your diet with copper pills you must adhere to the RDA and also take zinc.


According to the National Academy of Sciences a proper daily allowance for adults is 0.9 mg of copper (men and women) with 11 mg of zinc for men and 8 mg of zinc for women, and it is recommended to take the copper and zinc supplements at least two hours apart from each other. The safe upper level of copper supplementation is widely considered to be 10 mg a day. The EU recommended adult daily intake is 1 mg. The NHS recommends 1.2 mg per day for adults


Symptoms of copper toxicity include: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fever/chills, metallic taste in the mouth, abdominal cramps/pain, jaundice, headaches, passing out, anxiety/depression/sudden mood swings. These symptoms are also true for toxic overload in general and could also be attributed to any heavy metal or chemical poisoning.


Copper deficiency is more common than toxicity and low levels of copper deficiency may be more prevalent than we are currently aware of, especially with the increased consumption of zinc supplements (the primary cause), poor nutrition especially due to an increase in processed food and ready meals in the diet. And the increasingly prolific use of glyphosate on farmland. Glyphosate chelates all the minerals out of the soil leaving the crops less nutritious, it is also gets into the water supply. It has been found that regular ingestion of foods high in glyphosate also kill the good bacteria in the gut which makes the gut less able to extract and absorb nutrition from food. Some studies estimate that as much as 25% of Americans are deficient in copper however the UK population seems to be doing fine and in 2000/2001 it was estimated that the UK average daily intake of copper from food was 1.2 mg on average.


Symptoms of marginal copper deficiency include:


Marginal deficiency in copper may result in elevated cholesterol levels, impaired glucose tolerance, defects in the pigmentation and structure of the skin and hair, demyelination and degeneration of the nervous system and increased susceptibility to viral infections, especially those of the respiratory tract.


If you are interested in increasing the level of copper in your body the safest, quickest, and most effective way is to eat an organic diet rich in leafy greens (such as spinach for example), dark chocolate, mushrooms, seeds and wholegrain foods, nuts (particularly almonds), most sea food (but especially oysters and lobster), spirulina, beans, peas, liver (and other organ meats), kale and swiss chard.


Wearing copper and absorbing it through the skin is also a safe way to increase the level of copper in your body, however, the copper level in your body will increase very slowly and it may be a matter of months before you notice any difference in your health. Drinking out of copper utensils is also safe as long as there are no signs of corrosion present within the drinking utensil.






 


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