05/11/2025
Copper: The Missing Link
For years, copper was viewed more as a potential toxin than a vital nutrient — but emerging research is rewriting that story.
At optimal levels, copper is essential for energy production, iron metabolism, connective tissue integrity, brain health, and cardiovascular function. Yet modern diets and depleted soils have quietly reduced our copper intake to historic lows, setting the stage for subtle, widespread deficiency.
Low copper has been linked to fatigue, anaemia, osteoporosis, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s — all conditions rooted in disrupted energy metabolism and oxidative stress. Copper-dependent enzymes like cytochrome c oxidase and superoxide dismutase are vital for mitochondrial function and antioxidant defence, while ceruloplasmin and hephaestin are crucial for iron utilisation and red blood cell formation.
When copper is low, energy drops, iron becomes trapped, and oxidative damage rises. This deficiency often goes unnoticed — even in people with “normal” lab results.
Modern diets high in refined foods, excess zinc or iron, and poor soil mineral content further deplete copper reserves. The result is a population running below metabolic potential.
Replenishing copper through whole foods such as shellfish, liver, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains can help restore balance.
Copper isn’t a toxin to fear — it’s a trace mineral to respect. The overlooked foundation of energy, vitality, and resilience.
https://www.healthy.co.uk/copper-synergy-repair
