DEEPIKA RATHOD
Copper is a trace mineral which is needed in small amounts in our body for various functions including energy generation in our cells, production of melanin, activation of genes, building of convective tissues, nervous system, immune system as well as brain
development.
Drinking water from a copper vessel promotes angiogenic activity (formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels) in the body. This in turn helps in healing, and recovery gets enhanced for people who have a heart condition or have undergone a surgery, etc. But all this can happen when we have optimum levels of copper. The moment the copper level exceeds limits, it leads to side effects in the body. For instance, it can lead to disruption in digestive health as it affects the probiotics. This can further lead to indigestion, acidity, constipation, nausea, etc. If it’s not treated well, it can further lead to Wilson’s disease where the extra copper settles on the liver and other organs, affecting
their functions.
Also, while copper water has angiogenic properties, in some cases it might be bad as well. For example, any cancer or tumour cell has a potential of moving into proangiogenesis; which means a pathway that promotes angiogenic activity wherein, they can create their own blood vessels to feed themselves and grow in the body, which in turn increases the chances of metastasis chances. Copper ions activate several proangiogenic factors for tumour cells e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin etc. So it is better that copper is avoided completely in any cancer case.
However if there’s already an excess of copper in the body affecting you or causing symptoms, it’s better to meet your doctor and find ways like medication or chelation therapy to flush it out. Here are some natural ways to reduce excess copper:
1. Cruciferous vegetables: These vegetables are rich in sulphur that has the ability to bind to copper and eliminate it from the system. Include more broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc. in your meal. One can even supplement ‘milk thistle’ which further cleanses the liver; because it has the ability to flush copper out of the system.
2. Zinc: Food rich in zinc or zinc supplements prescribed by doctors helps to prevent copper from getting accumulated in the liver or stomach and further helps in flushing out copper from the body.
3. Activity: Exercise leads to sweating, which is a good detoxifier. Heavy metals in the human body can be flushed out via sweat and perspiration.
4. Sleep: Sleep is the only time when your body undergoes the detoxification process. So, if you’re sleep deprived there are high chances that your body is accumulating toxins like excess copper. The moment you work on improving your sleep cycle, your body cleanses itself and reduces these trace minerals.
5. Water: You lose excess copper through excretion via stools or urine. So it is important to stay hydrated. Increasing water intake also helps in flushing out the rocks from the liver, kidney, colon, stomach, etc. naturally.
It is advisable to have just one glass of copper water every morning apart from the copper you get naturally from foods like unsalted nuts, unsalted seeds, green leafy vegetables, lentils, meat, eggs, mushrooms, etc.
(The writer is a chief nutrition officer (CNO) and lifestyle expert with Luke Coutinho Holistic Healing Systems (LCHHS))
