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Nutritional copper is believed to be beneficial in helping overcome chronic inflammation, gray hair, cancer, parasites, arthritis, skin wrinkles and joint problems such as arthritis, bursitis and rheumatism.
Studies have been published that further establish the negative effects of copper deficiency in humans. Copper is of vital importance for many reasons: protects us from cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, free radicals, and cancer. Copper is also vital for keeping our skin, blood vessels and connective tissue supple and elastic. These well-documented findings came as a surprise to many who had been misled to believe that copper
should be avoided because it is toxic and can generate free radicals.
Not only is copper relatively non-toxic, but a deficiency of copper raises free-radical activity in our bodies by lowering the activity of many of our endogenous antioxidant peptides like super oxide dismutase, ceruloplasmin, and glutathione peroxidase. Indeed a deficiency of copper that increases an animal's damage from free radicals and increases its susceptibility to cancer. Most of us do not consume even 50% of the recommended 2-3 milligrams of copper daily, research showing a negative effect of both zinc and ascorbic acid supplements on copper status was alarming for supplement users. Chronic copper deficiency results in anemia, leukopenia, and skeletal demineralization, sub clinical copper deficiency in adult animals is hard to detect and can cause
instability in heart rhythm, hyperlipidemia, thrombotic heart disease, and breakdown of vascular tissue. Benefits of good copper nutrition is obvious, especially for those people consuming supplements of dietary copper antagonists like zinc and ascorbic acid.
Some companies manufacture multivitamin or mineral products that contain little or no copper (and worse with high doses of vitamin C & Zinc), and do not worry about the possible consequences. Remember the fundamental importance of adequate copper in good nutrition. Because copper supplements are inexpensive, its importance has generally been overlooked. If copper were a high-priced nutrient it would have many vocal supporters pointing to its vital importance and remarkable health-promoting properties.
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