How Do You Know You Are Copper Deficient?

The body needs essential nutrients to function properly, and copper is just one of the perfect minerals the body needs to carry out its functions effectively. The function of the mineral copper cannot be overemphasized, as it is known to perform a lot of awesome functions in the body.

To begin with, copper ensures that the nervous system works effectively. It also ensures that the bones and muscles are provided all the compounds required for them to be strong and healthy. Copper is also known to help regulate a healthy metabolism in the body.

Research has found that copper deficiency is a rare kind of mineral deficiency. But at the same time, most personalities do not consume up to the required daily intake value of copper. In fact, it has been recorded that up to 30% of the human population in some countries is not consuming up to the required daily consumption of copper. Copper deficiency can be dangerous to health, as it can lead to poor metabolism, weak bones, and muscles, as well as a malfunctioning nervous system.

According to research, some health conditions have been associated with copper deficiency. These health conditions prevent copper from getting absorbed into the blood, thereby making the body lack copper contents to function with.

Some of these health conditions include; Celiac diseases, other diseases or surgeries that may affect the digestive tract, as well as the overconsumption of zinc, a mineral that may inhibit the absorption of some minerals like copper.

The question now is, how then do you know when you are copper deficient since it is a rare condition?

Signs and Symptoms of Copper Deficiency

Constant Weakness and Fatigue

One of the major causes of the constant fatigue and weakness you feel may be as a result of low copper contents in your body. Also, copper is required for other minerals like iron to get absorbed into your body. When copper is supplied to the body in tiny amounts, the body will absorb little or no iron at all. Asides from copper deficiency, this can also cause iron deficiency, also known as anemia, a condition whereby the cells in the body do not get enough oxygen to function with. This condition can lead to fatigue and tiredness. Many studies have proven that a lack of copper in the blood can lead to iron deficiency. Fortunately, simple changes to diet can correct iron deficiency caused by copper deficiency. All you just need to do is, add copper-rich foods to your diet, and you are good to go.

Constant Illness

If you happen to fall sick very often and you are not a stickler, try checking your copper levels or try topping your copper-rich foods sources. One of the major health benefits copper provides the body with is the improvement and boost of the immune system. When copper lacks in the body, the immune system might just begin to get weak, which would automatically expose you to falling sick very often.

According to research, the body struggles to produce cells that are immune at a time when the copper level in the body is low. This automatically can reduce the amounts of white blood cells in your body, thereby destroying your body’s defenses and ability to protect you from falling sick.

Fortunately, this can be corrected through the consumption of copper-rich foods.

Weak Muscles and Bones

Weak and brittle bones are major characteristics of a condition known as osteoporosis. This condition affects mostly people who are aged. Most research has found a connection between the severity of this condition with copper deficiency. In other words, a copper deficiency could lead to weak muscles that would automatically cause osteoporosis.

For bone health, copper may help protect bone health while strengthening it and providing support for it to prevent brittles and even fractures.

Weak Memory and Slow Learning

According to research, one of the effects of copper deficiency on memory health is the inability to remember things fast. Such a person might also find it difficult to learn new things. Are you wondering how this is possible? It is possible in the sense that copper is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in the development and boosting of brain and memory health.

It ensures that the brain is able to send signals correctly to associated parties, boost the brain’s defense system, and provides the brain with sufficient energy to perform its functions.

A recent survey carried out on 70 people suffering from Alzheimer’s showed that people with the disease had more copper deficiency cases compared to people who were not suffering from the health condition.

Copper deficiency has been linked to brain illnesses like the inability to remember things very fast and the inability to learn conveniently without putting unnecessary pressure on your brain.

Walking Issues

Copper plays an important role in the protection of the spinal cord. When you are copper deficient, you may begin to experience difficulty walking, as your body does not have enough copper to work with. Copper strengthens the brain and spinal cord and ensures that the signals they send to each other are strong enough to produce a healthy person. However, the whole idea gets jeopardized when the body lacks sufficient copper contents.

In addition, copper deficiency can trigger symptoms like uncoordinated movements and extreme fatigue, no matter how tiny the distance you have walked is.

Sensitive to Cold

People who are copper deficient might have severe sensitivity to cold. This is one symptom you should look out for, as many other health conditions share similar triggers as copper deficiency. When copper has reached a healthy level in the body, it begins to work with other minerals like zinc to ensure that thyroid health is intact.

Skin Paleness

Melanin is one element on the skin that determines skin color. According to studies, people who are dark in complexion have higher melanin substance on their skins compared to those who are fair-skinned.

Copper deficiency has the tendency of affecting the melanin pigment that gives the skin its unique color. When the skin color pigments begin to get affected and deeply eaten up by this deficiency, then you may begin to notice paleness on your skin.

Premature Gray Hair

Just like the melanin pigment gets affected as a result of copper deficiency, so also does the hair suffer the same fate. Lack of sufficient copper on the body can lead to the growth of excess gray hair, even when at your age, your gray hair should not be beyond a particular level. However, without correcting the deficiency, the symptoms and signs will persist.

Loss of Sight

When a copper deficiency is left untreated over a long period of time, it can lead to loss of vision. Since copper has been closely associated with the proper functioning of the nervous system, the vision may get affected if copper is undersupplied to the body.

According to research, people who might most likely lose their sight as a result of copper deficiency are people who have digestive tract diseases or must have undergone digestive tract surgeries like gastric bypass surgery. This occurs as a result of the digestive tract’s inability to absorb minerals, especially copper, properly.

Although, some studies claim that loss of vision caused by copper deficiency can easily be corrected by consuming copper-rich foods. However, on the other hand, some other studies have argued against it.

• Copper rich foods sources
• Boiled lobster
• Boiled squid
• Boiled beef liver
• Boiled lamb
• Boiled oysters
• Dark chocolates
• Roasted sesame seeds
• Raw oats
• Roasted sunflower seeds
• Roasted almonds
• Cashew nuts
• Boiled mushrooms

Consuming 1 or more of these foods can supply your body with sufficient copper that your body needs to function effectively.

Side Effects of Excess Consumption of Copper-Rich Foods

Too much of everything is bad. As much as you want to top your copper levels, try not to consume too much of it, as some side effects have been identified to result after the excess consumption of copper and copper-rich foods. Some of these side effects include;

• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Black stools
• Irregular heartbeats
• Difficulty breathing
• Low blood pressure
• Jaundice
• Coma
• Liver damage
• Kidney failure

However, it is quite rare, according to research, to consume copper contents from foods that might cause these side effects.

In conclusion, copper is an essential mineral that plays a very important role in the body. Too little of it can cause harm to the body, and too much of it as well can result in dangerous side effects. Moderation is key.