  In
the miracle of nature that is the human body, few things work harder
than copper. Sometimes overshadowed by its valuable role in technology,
copper also happens to be indispensable to a healthy body. It is a
micronutrient that enables us to live and grow.
Copper is necessary for fetal development and infant growth, for bone
strength, blood cell maturation, iron transport, cholesterol and glucose
metabolism, heart muscle contraction and brain development.
Copper also has therapeutic qualities making it effective against
skin disorders, gout and certain cancers, phosphorus poisoning and
bacterial infection.
Copper deficiency causes serious health effects, including anemia,
heart and circulation problems, bone abnormalities and improper functioning
of the nervous and immune systems, lungs, thyroid, pancreas and kidneys.
The best way to ensure you get enough copper is by keeping a balanced
diet. Cereals, meat, root vegetables, legumes, wine, nuts - even chocolate!
- are excellent sources of dietary copper.
Research indicates many people don't get adequate dietary copper.
An expert panel of the World Health Organization recently expressed
concern about the problem of copper deficiency - particularly among
children and seniors, even in North America and Western Europe.
For pregnant women, newborns and young children, the need for sufficient
daily copper is critical. Newborns need three times the copper intake
as adults, and expectant mothers are advised to double their intake
late in pregnancy.
When used for plumbing tube, copper also acts as an effective anti-pathogen,
eliminating bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungus and other water-borne
micro-organisms that threaten water purity and cause disease.
Nature's design enables copper to work in a well-tuned balance with
the body. We absorb the right amount of copper needed for good health,
and harmlessly excrete any excess. Very infrequently, ingesting copper
in extremely large quantities causes short-term gastro-intenstinal
disorder, resulting in nausea, diarrhea or vomiting. These rare incidents
pose no risk of chronic or long-term health effects.
By far, the biggest public health challenge relating to copper involves
ensuring that everyone eats right to get a sufficient supply daily.
By doing so, we can be certain that copper will continue providing
us with the nutrition needed for vitality and good health - a small
miracle that we can make happen every day. |
