Vitamins
Lacking energy, always getting sick? Are you getting enough vitamins and minerals? Vitamins such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B and minerals such as calcium and iron are crucial for a healthy life. The vitamins and minerals information pages provide you with crucial information about vitamins and minerals, such as which foods contain them, what they do, deficiency symptoms and more.
What is it:
Copper is found in a variety of enzymes , it is the central metal in the oxygen carrying pigment hemocyanin. Copper, found in the bones, muscles, brain, heart, liver and kidneys , is an important trace mineral for the cardiovascular, nervous and skeletal systems.
What does it do:
It is essential in various enzymatic processes in the body and assists the absorption and utilisation of Iron. Copper is only required in very small amounts but deficiency can have a serious effect on several body systems. Copper is carried mostly in the bloodstream on a plasma protein called ceruloplasmin. Though when copper is first absorbed in the gut it is transported to the liver bound to albumin.
Symptoms of deficiency:
Insufficient copper has been associated with: changes in hair colour & texture, and hair loss; disturbances to the nervous system; bone diseases. Serious deficiency is rare but can lead to: Menke's syndrome.
Overdose/Cautions:
"Toxic levels will lead to diarrhea, vomiting, liver damage as well as discoloration of the skin and hair, while mild excesses will result in fatigue, irritability, depression and loss of concentration and learning disabilities. Children getting too much copper may have hyperactive tendencies. An inherited condition called Wilson's disease causes the body to retain copper, as it is not excreted by the liver into the bil. This disease, if untreated, can lead to brain and liver damage.
Natural food sources:
Cocoa Liver Kidney Oysters Peas Raisins Molluscs and shellfish Nuts