Copper is one of the essential trace elements and must therefore be taken daily through the diet. In the body, copper is found in the skeleton, the muscles, the brain and above all in the liver. There, the copper is stored and incorporated into enzymes. The absorption of copper takes place via the gastrointestinal tract. The trace element has an antioxidant effect. This means that it protects the cell membranes of the body from attack by free radicals. However, the skin also benefits from the presence of copper in the body because it also participates in the formation of the dye melanin. Melanin is responsible for the pigmentation of hair, eyes and skin. The formation of melanin makes the skin appear fresher and more radiant. Copper also has an influence on elasticity because copper is involved in the formation of collagen and elastin. In addition, copper participates in many other processes in the body, be it strengthening the immune system or the formation of red blood cells. In order to take advantage of this large number of positive properties of copper, an average amount of 1.0 mg of copper should be consumed per day. There is an increased need for heavy smokers, people with a one-sided diet or certain gastrointestinal disorders. Too much vitamin C, zinc or calcium can also affect the usability of copper in the body, which can quickly lead to a shortage, if not balanced nutrition is fed. Possible copper defects can be expressed by oily, prematurely graying hair or an aging skin. Also pigmentary disorders. Even anemia (anemia) can be the result of a copper deficiency, because copper is also responsible for iron absorption, which can be significantly disturbed by insufficient copper in the body. Prevent this by eating offal, shellfish, nuts, buckwheat or cocoa regularly. When taking copper as a dietary supplement, care should be taken that it is taken between meals and throughout the day.
