As you know, copper is an indispensable trace element that provides a fairly large number of physiological processes taking place in the body. Having a properly composed diet, including all the minerals and vitamins necessary for the body, you can not resort to the use of food additives. Of course, for this it is necessary to have an idea of which products contain copper. In this article we will tell you about this.
Popular Copper Products
You can call a huge amount of food containing copper. First, we list the most popular copper-rich foods:
- Liver. It is incredibly useful for eating, it contains a large amount of the substance we need. A huge plus is the fact that this applies not only to pork or beef liver. This also applies to cod liver. The daily rate of copper for the body, necessary to maintain the quality work of all organs, contains only a small piece of the product, whose weight is approximately 100-150 grams.
- Croup. Copper is found in cereal products: cereals, wholemeal flour. In general, absolutely any cereal includes this trace element. Also, copper-rich foods include pumpkin or sunflower seeds, sesame seeds. But most of this trace element is in germinated wheat.
- Vegetables and fruits. People who are seriously interested in the question of which products contain copper should by no means lose sight of its sources such as fruits and vegetables. Despite the fact that not all of them are a rich source of copper, fruits such as apples, tomatoes, cucumbers and beets should not be ignored.
Copper in foods we rarely consume
- Seafood. We have all known since school that there are many minerals in the composition of sea water. And copper is no exception. Thanks to this, the inhabitants of the seas and oceans also belong to copper-rich human food products. But the priority in the ratio of the amount of active copper to the body weight of the object are such creatures as oysters, shrimps, as well as squids and lobsters. Due to the significant difference in the price categories of products containing copper, seafood is excluded from the diet by many residents of Russia because of the high cost.
- Nuts and beans. Nuts contain a fairly large amount of the active trace element, which we are talking about today. However, they are a very high-calorie product, the absorption of which in large quantities can lead to undesirable results, in particular to gaining excess weight. Therefore, nuts can be left as an additional option for replenishing the supply of copper in the body. But the use of peas or beans will be much better reflected in your body, if your goal is to replenish the missing supply of copper with the help of legumes.
- Cocoa. Today, this wonderful product for some reason has remained underestimated. Products containing copper are both cocoa itself and chocolate made from it, chocolate pastes , etc.
- Yeast. Naturally, just eating yeast in food is a problematic process. But such a substance containing some B vitamins, as well as copper itself, to not eat would be an incredible omission. Probably, the prospect of adding yeast to kvass or pastries will please you as well as the opportunity for beer lovers to find an excuse for their addiction. However, despite such benefits of yeast, you should not get too carried away with them, since they also contain substances that negatively affect the human body.
Do not limit your diet to the use of any one of the above products. It is better to restore the lack of copper in the body using all of these groups.
However, it is also important to know what excess and deficiency of copper are specifically dangerous for the body and how they appear.
The reasons for the lack of copper
In adults, this complication is rare, but for children, especially those born prematurely, a lack of this trace element can be fatal.
The main reasons for the lack of copper include:
- hereditary lack of specialized enzymes;
- feeding children under the age of one year with cow's milk;
- lack of protein.
Copper deficiency symptoms
Symptoms of copper deficiency include:
- hair loss;
- rash onset;
- depression;
- violation of color pigmentation of the skin.
If a person has some of the above signs, it is recommended to immediately increase the amount of a trace element entering the body called copper. In food, their properties need to learn to understand. What is necessary to remember? First of all, what products contain copper. And if possible, use them in a significant amount.
The effects of prolonged copper deficiency in the body
If you postpone the issue of eliminating the lack of copper in a long box, then the consequences may be as follows:
- diseases of the immune system;
- the development of atherosclerosis;
- the occurrence of early osteoporosis;
- the development of various pulmonary diseases;
- the occurrence of vascular disorders;
- the development of various hereditary diseases.
Causes of excess copper in the body
In some cases, certain diseases can affect the increase in copper levels in the body. These include:
- various kidney diseases;
- chronic bronchial diseases;
- myocardial infarction;
- mental illness (schizophrenia and others);
- the effects of large amounts of alcohol on the body.
One way or another, you should not allow the appearance of excess copper in the body.
Daily rate of copper
The body of an ordinary person on average experiences the following need for copper:
- For adults - 1-2 mg / day.
- For lactating and pregnant women - 2-3 mg / day.
- For children from one to three years - 1 mg / day.
- For children from 4 to 6 years - 1.5 mg / day.
- For children from 7 to 12 years - 2 mg / day.
- For children from 12 to 18 years - 2.5 mg / day.
The exception is adults with reduced immunity, suffering from various inflammatory diseases, as well as having excessive physical exertion on the body, consuming a significant amount of alcohol or smoking. Such adults should be aware of which foods contain a lot of copper, and choose a diet, focusing on them.
Finally
So, you have found out what products contain copper, and now you can adjust your diet so that it includes the required amount of this microelement. In conclusion, it is worth saying that such an important trace element as copper is involved in various processes in the body. However, the main role of copper is to participate in the process of hematopoiesis. Without it, this process cannot continue. Consequently, the lack of copper will affect not only your appearance, but also on such much more important indicators as well-being and health.
Based on the foregoing, you can evaluate the importance of having the right amount of copper in your body and decide whether you need to change your diet. And if so, then this article, which tells you in detail about which products contain copper, will help you with this.