January 15, 2002

How to get more of the breakthrough anti-aging mineral

(This cover story was reprinted from the Woman's World magazine, January 15, 2002 issue)

Studies show at least 60% of us aren't getting enough copper our diets, and pumping up your supply could be the key to feeling, looking and actually being younger!

The total amount of copper in your body would probably fit on the head of a pin, but this miniscule amount performs mighty feats. In fact, the scientific evidence of copper's health benefits has become so overwhelming that this year, the National Academy of Sciences issued the first recommended daily intake (RDI) for the mineral.

And although we need only 0.9 mg. a day, an estimated 61% of Americans are copper-deficient, ac¬cording to the USDA.

"You're at risk if you eat a lot of processed foods and not enough fruits and vegetables," the key food sources, says University of California-Davis nutrition researcher Carl Keen, Ph.D. And taking lots of zinc when you have a cold can also contribute, since zinc can block the body's absorption of copper.

But don't worry—it's easy to get enough of this nutrient, and once you do, experts say you'll be:

Building younger skin and bones

Scientists say copper is essential for the produc­ tion of collagen—, the fibrous strands that give skin its firm, smooth, wrinkle-free tex ture. "Copper acts like the rungs on ladder, linking proteins together to make collagen strands that are strong and resilient" explains Keen—so getting enough helps ensure your skin is smooth and firm.

The mineral is cropping up in topical skin treatments, "but if you take it food or supplement form, you'll also be helping your bones," says Keen. Studies suggest that the lower a woman's copper levels, the higher her risk of weak, fracture-prone bones, and research shows that bone strength increases 30% when women take copper supplements daily for just eight weeks!

Protecting yourself against cancer

Copper can also make you younger on the inside. Researchers have known for years that it helps neutralize the free radicals that attack and damage healthy body cells, so it can help stave off vision problems, heart disease and other age-related health hassles. Now research suggests it's a powerful cancer-fighter, too.

Studies suggest that a copper-rich diet may cut a person's risk of colon cancer in half. "Copper appears to help keep cells growing and dividing properly, so they can resist cancerous changes," says USDA nutrition researcher Cindy Davis, Ph.D. "We now have proof that a well-balanced diet that includes copper could stop up to 65% of cancers from ever forming."

Powering up your energy supply

"Copper is essential for transforming iron into a form the body can use," says Keen. So when you don't get enough, you can also set yourself up for an iron shortage—and chronic fatigue is one of the first symptoms. Aiming for IS mg. of iron and 0.9 mg. copper daily could give you your youthful energy back in as little as four weeks.

—Caitlin Castro