The Importance Of Copper In Our Bodies
"Copper runs the metabolism of the body." - Morley Robbins
This admittedly bold statement is born out by the vast array of activities in the body that are directly controlled by copper.
Copper is an essential and controlling element in over 300 different enzymes in the body. Enzymes are catalysts that cause actions to occur in the body in a specific, precise manner. The copper-based enzymes are involved in over 98% of all metabolic activity.
The most important activities of copper and its copper-based enzymes
- Energy Production: Copper directs an enzyme called cytochrome c-oxidase found in the mitochondria of every cell. This enzyme is like the power plant of your cells - it helps convert oxygen and nutrients into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the energy currency your cells use. So, copper ensures that the ATP production line keeps humming along smoothly, to the tune of 10 billion ATP's produced in the body every second!
Without sufficient bioavailable copper (the form of copper that the mitochondria can use), the most critical source of energy for the cells will be slowed down and may stop entirely in some cells. This is the main cause of fatigue and low energy that everyone experiences today, as well as the cause of virtually all diseases, as the body doesn't have the energy it needs for proper metabolism, growth and healing. - Anti-Oxidant Functions: The energy production in the mitochondria gives off an exhaust in the form of "free radicals" - oxygen molecules called "oxidants" that are missing an electron. Left unchecked, these oxidants roam around the body, stealing electrons from other molecules, crippling our tissues and organs in the process.
Copper is able to immediately metabolize (transform) these oxidants into harmless water before they are able to move out into the bloodstream and cause problems.
- Iron Metabolism: Copper is the only element in the body that can manage iron, another important mineral. Copper teams up with an enzyme called ceruloplasmin to regulate iron levels. Together, they ensure that iron gets where it needs to be - whether it’s helping form hemoglobin in red blood cells or supporting other essential processes.
Copper and ceruloplasmin also help ensure that iron does not build up where it shouldn't be - in tissues and organs in the body. Iron is the primary source of oxidative stress in the body, which is the primary cause of aging. Left unregulated, iron can lead to many diseases such as heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. Built up iron can begin to magnetize, causing disruptions in our electrical nervous system and leading to many other health issues. It can also release enzymes that cause magnesium, one of the most important minerals in the body, to be removed. - Connective Tissue Formation: Copper is the architect behind collagen - the protein that holds your skin, bones, and blood vessels together. Copper collaborates with lysyl oxidase, an enzyme that cross-links collagen fibers. Without copper, your connective tissues would be like a wobbly Jenga tower.
- Neurotransmission: Copper even has a role in your brain’s communication network. It is an essential part of dopamine β-monooxygenase, an enzyme that converts dopamine into norepinephrine - a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation and stress responses.
- Enzyme Activity: Copper is an essential element in over 300 of the most important enzymes in the body. These copper-based enzymes manage more than 98% of all the activity in the human body. This is why it is said that "Copper runs the metabolism in the body."
Plus, there are hundreds of other critical activities that copper controls through various copper-based enzymes. You could say that copper is the prime expression of our body's intelligence in the day to day management of our metabolism. So, having an adequate supply of copper in the body is of the highest importance for its health and longevity.
How do I make sure I have sufficient copper in my body?
There are three main steps you have to take to provide your body with sufficient bioavailable copper.
- Get enough copper-rich foods in your diet and/or take copper supplements.
It is ideal to get our nutrients from whole foods, but our food supply today contains very low amounts of copper, so supplementation is usually a requirement. The 30 Steps for Vibrant Health and Longevity page outlines this in the Mineral Supplements section. - Get the additional nutrients your body needs to create bioavailable copper.
Copper must be "bioavailable", meaning in a form that can be readily used to form all these enzymes. Bioavailable copper is copper embedded in ceruloplasmin, a special protein molecule. Ceruloplasmin is created and filled with copper in the liver. It's then released into the bloodstream, where it can carry its copper passengers to every cell, then hand them over to special carrier elements that take the copper into the cell where it can do its job.
The process of creating and transporting bioavailable copper requires a number of other nutrients to be successful, including minerals, vitamins from whole foods (especially vitamin A as retinol), Omega-3, and more. These are spelled out as the "Starts" in the Root Cause Protocol and listed on the 30 Steps for Vibrant Health and Longevity page. - Stop doing things that block copper absorption and transport in the body
There are many things that can block our body's ability to absorb copper, interfere with the production of bioavailable copper, and stop the delivery of bioavailable copper to where it's needed.
These include eating sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, using industrialized omega-6 oils (e.g. soybean oil, canola oil, etc.), eating low-fat, high-carb processed foods, eating non-organic foods laced with glyphosate (the weedkiller found in RoundUp®), using fluoride in water and toothpaste, and many more. These normal, seemingly innocent parts of our modern diet all decimate the levels of bioavailable copper in the body.
These are spelled out in the "Stops" in the Root Cause Protocol and listed on the 30 Steps for Vibrant Health and Longevity page.
