Copper
Although copper, with the chemical symbol of Cu, is the third most abundant mineral in the body, you may not be getting the proper amounts your body needs from your food. Your body needs this mineral for healthy growth and development. It helps the body to use iron, to help it use sugar, and support bone growth and nerve function.
The enzymes in your body need copper in order to function the way they should. It is an essential nutrient in the production of haemoglobin, myelin, collagen and melanin. It works with Vitamin C to help you develop the elasticity needed in connective tissue and is essential in the coloring features of your skin, hair and eyes.
There are many different foods from which you can obtain the copper your body needs to remain healthy. Organ meats, especially liver, is rich in this mineral. Oyster is one of the main sources of copper from seafood. Other food sources include:
- Beans
- Nuts
- Whole grains
You will also get trace amounts of copper by using copper cookware when preparing foods and from drinking water that runs through copper pipes. Even eating products that have been sprayed with chemicals that contain copper will give you traces of this mineral. If you eat canned foods containing copper, the effectiveness of the mineral may be decreased due to the length of time the can is stored.
continue to Copper Part 2