Copper

​If you've seen me already, you know I talk a lot about copper, especially in women. All those high estrogen conditions like heavy menses, cramping, endometriosis, fibroids, post partum depression, PMS/PMDD, etc. can all be due to copper. But where is it coming from?

Exogenous hormones used for birth control elevate your body's copper levels. Women who feel terrible on oral contraceptive pills, shots, implants, ring, IUD, and patches, are the most likely candidates.

Copper sulfate is an algaecide, bactericide, desiccant, fungicide, and herbicide. It gets sprayed on fruits and vegetables, even organic, and especially grapes. It's also in Centrum and similar one-a-day multivitamins as a source of copper. Municipal water sources use it to kill off various microbes and algae, and public swimming pools use it too.You could also get it from copper pipes and pans.

For people with adequate zinc, gall bladder function, vitamin A, and ceruloplasmin (a blood protein that binds to copper), you might not have any problems. The more dysfunctions and nutrient insufficiencies you have, the more problems you will see related to copper. And, it's not just about being "within normal range". You could have a completely normal copper, normal ceruloplasmin, but a really high free copper or free copper index. These calculations show us that you can have elevated production of Norepinephrine, which will make you more anxious or manic. And, because copper is Cu++ in the blood, it is very pro-oxidative and can cause a lot of damage.
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Lowering your free copper is possible with appropriate nutrient supplementation.