Your body stores only small amounts of copper & that means you need to eat foods containing it.
Copper is an essential mineral. It helps make energy, connective tissue and blood vessels, maintains the nervous & immune systems, and activates genes.
The amount of daily copper you need varies. Adults 19 years and older need 900 micrograms per day. Pregnant women need 1,000 mcg per day, and breastfeeding women need 1,300 mcg a day.
You can get the daily recommended amount of copper from a variety of plant and animal foods. The best sources include shellfish, seeds, nuts, organ meats, wheat bran cereals, whole grain products and chocolate.
There’s been a lot of research on copper and several health conditions, including osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s Disease and cardiovascular disease. But there are gaps in knowledge that makes it complicated to assess the role of copper in disease prevention.
Since copper is so commonly found in foods, most people tend to get enough. Some groups of people may have difficulty getting enough copper, including those with celiac disease, those with Menkes disease (a rare genetic disorder) or people taking high doses of zinc supplements, as the zinc can interfere with the ability to absorb copper.
Signs of copper deficiency include:
- Extreme fatigue.
- Lightened patches of skin.
- High levels of cholesterol in the blood.
- Connective tissue disorders affecting the ligaments and skin.
- Weak and brittle bones.
- Loss of balance and coordination.
- Increased risk of infection.
More information: https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/health-benefits-of-copper