Is Copper Good For Your Health? - Big Y® World Class Market®

What do we know about the benefits of copper to human health?
Copper is essential for life, which means that the human body must have copper to stay healthy. In fact, for a variety of biochemical processes in the body to operate normally, copper must be a part of our diet. Copper is needed for certain critical enzymes to function in the body. These enzymes are involved with energy metabolism - the way that the body gives you the energy to function.

Too little copper in the body can actually lead to disease. In addition, copper is involved in the functioning of the nervous system, in maintaining the balance of other useful metals in the body such as zinc and molybdenum, and possibly other body functions. Scientists around the globe are continually learning more about the body's need for copper and its benefits in the normal diet.

What are the main sources of copper intake in daily living?
The main source of copper in infants, children, and adults, regardless of age, is the diet. Copper is a natural ingredient in many foods. Copper is typically present in mineral rich foods like vegetables, legumes, nuts, grains, fruits, and yes, even chocolate!

What are other sources of copper intake?

Drinking Water.
Copper is a natural element found in the earth's crust. As a result, most of the world's surface water and ground water that is used for drinking purposes contains copper.
Dust and particles.
Copper is used in many consumer products. In a small number of these products, copper is released during the course of their normal use. An example, is copper in roadway dust shed from automobile brakes during their normal use.
Copper cook ware.
Certain foods prepared and left to sit for an extended period of time in copper cook ware may contain copper transferred from the cook ware surface.

What about copper water pipe as a source of copper in drinking water?
In many regions of the world, copper is carried to the drinking water tap by copper tubing. For the better part of a century, communities have had practical experience in keeping drinking water clean, and in using copper plumbing as the preferred method for carrying drinking water. Conclusive scientific studies allow us to say that copper plumbing keeps drinking water clean by keeping down micobial growth, and reduces the need for overly aggressive water treatment to keep the water clean. Copper plumbing tube leaches a small amount of copper in the first year or two of delivering tap water in residences and public buildings. Afterward, the inner surface of the tube forms a hard surface that retards leaching, unless certain chemical characteristics of water in the tubes exceed acceptable limits used by regulators responsible for protecting the drinking water supply.

Are there any health hazards from exposure to copper from these sources?
Like all substances, excessive copper can make people ill when ingested. Copper toxicity in humans takes the form of stomach upset, nausea, and diarrhea, and stops when the high copper source is removed. These effects are noted at copper levels far in excess of the World Health Organization limits for copper in drinking water. In extremely rare cases, particularly among those people with rare genetic conditions, copper can be more toxic, adversely affecting various bodily functions and organs.

Do I need to limit my exposure to copper?
You should be sure that your diet includes sufficient copper, as an essential element, to meet your body's needs. Many people actually take copper-containing tablets as a nutritional supplement.

So what is the bottom line on copper and human health?

Copper is an essential nutrient required by the body in daily dietary amounts of 1 to 2 milligrams for adults (1/2 to 1 milligram for children).

This can be obtained by eating normal amounts of the copper-rich foods indicated earlier.

Copper water tube actually helps to keep water clean. Copper water tube releases copper to drinking water in small amounts when the tube is new or when the water in the tube has certain chemical characteristics.

For the general population, copper is not toxic during the normal course of daily life. However, certain individuals with rare genetic diseases need to be vigilant about monitoring the levels of copper in their bodies and managing it in consultation with their physicians.