In Ayurveda, copper is said to balance the mind and body. This ancient medicine recommends drinking water kept overnight in a copper vessel (tamra jal – copper water), first thing in the morning.
1 in 4 people in US and Canada consume less copper than the average daily requirement of 2mg/day. [Source 1]
Verified by modern science, we now know that copper is an essential dietary mineral that:
1. Helps us absorb Iron
Copper helps in the absorption of iron and of course, we need iron for the creation of red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout our body to live about our lives. [Source 2]
2. Maintains Healthy Bones
Proper levels of copper in your diet are vital for bone health. Studies show that copper deficiency leads to lower bone mineral density and bone strength, leading to osteoporosis and arthiritis. Besides density, copper is also necessary for the health of bone tissue. It does this by activating lysil oxidase which is required for the cross-linking of collagen, the main component of bone connective tissue. [Sources 3 and Source 4]
3. improves Cardiovascular Health
Studies show that increased intake of copper can reduce heart disease, heart failure and fatty liver disease. Copper specifically helps in lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, and is an important antioxidant nutrient that reduces the damaging effects of aging and oxidative stress on the heart.
4. Increases Immunity
Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell and are the first line of defense for our body against infections. Studies show that when our body has a low amount of copper, this leads to a lower count and efficacy of neutorphils (this is the “ANC” value on our blood tests) which weakens our body’s ability to fight sickness. [Source 7]
5. Reduces Inflammation & Prevents Aging
Copper is an integral part of Superoxide Dimustases (SODs), which are antioxidants that fight oxidative stress in our body and help reduce inflammation. Oxidative stress is an increase in free radicals in our body that cause cell damage leading to a variety of diseases such as cancers, and also are linked to aging. [Source 8]
6. Supports weightloss
Studies show that copper is what helps burn fat as energy (aka helps increase metabolism!). With a copper deficiency, fat cells would continue building up without being utilized. [Source 9]
7. Provides Anti-microbial protection
Copper’s anti-microbial properties have long been known since ancient civilizations. Copper is proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses including E.Coli and Covid-19 when they come in contact with the metal’s surface. Hospitals around the world use copper and its alloys for high touch surfaces such as railings and doorknobs to stop the spread of infections. [Source 10 and Source11]
Sources:
Metabolic crossroads of iron and copper: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3690345/
Serum copper levels are associated with bone mineral density and total fracture: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6034109/
Microelements for bone boost: the last but not the least: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5318168/#:~:text=Copper%20is%20an%20essential%20trace,reduced%20bone%20strength%20(56)
Copper deficiency may be a leading cause of ischaemic heart disease: https://openheart.bmj.com/content/5/2/e000784
Heart failure improvement from a supplement containing copper: https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/27/1/117/608121
Copper and immunity: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9587153/
Therapeutic potentials of superoxide dismutase: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5969776/
Copper essential for burning fat, researchers find: https://news.berkeley.edu/2016/06/10/copper-essential-for-burning-fat-researchers-find/#:~:text=University%20of%20California%2C%20Berkeley%2C%20Lawrence,stream%20for%20use%20as%20energy
Introduction to Antimicrobial Copper Alloys: https://www.copperalloystewardship.com/introduction-to-antimicrobial-copper
Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARS COV-2 as compared to SARS COV-1 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2004973?query=featured_home