A closer look at copper
Copper toxicity is a widespread yet one of the most misunderstood epidemics of our time, and is commonly a factor in many of today’s most prevalent conditions. It should therefore be a key route of investigation for any of the associated symptoms.” – Rick Fischer
When the push for birth control began, it not only wreaked havoc on the mental and physical health of countless women, but the harmful fruit of its physiological influence stays in our bodies for decades. In this article, we will be discussing copper and the role it plays in chronic symptoms.
Copper is an essential mineral, but we need it in small quantities, otherwise it can wreak havoc on our God designed bodies. Birth control impacts our body’s relationship to copper + leads to a cascade of symptoms that often go overlooked.
Here are some fun facts:
Copper imbalances can be passed on in utero so it is often missed for generations and masked by diagnoses of add/adhd, OCD, and more.
It is an excitoxin and stimulatory to the adrenal glands, which can lead to a state of exhaustion overtime.
It is also responsible for iron regulation so imbalanced copper can be confused with anemia.
Copper begins wreaking havoc when it is unbound in the body.
Copper in and of itself is not toxic, we need it… but we need a balance and there are many ways in which our bodies become out of balance, birth control happens to be a huge factor.
To be bioavailable, it needs an enzyme and transporter known as ceruloplasmin, optimal levels of retinol (vitamin A) + a balance of zinc, to be properly used by the body, otherwise it begins storing up in the liver and brain.
This is a survival mechanism of the body. It tends to store unbound + unusable minerals, metals, + toxins in bones, organs, + body fat to protect us.
Copper is also interconnected with estrogen, so it rises + is retained as estrogen rises.
This is also by design. We need bioavailable copper to procreate and create a healthy baby.
Many forms of birth control stop ovulation, which creates a state of estrogen dominance + low progesterone.
Lack of progesterone leads to anxiety because progesterone is calming.
In addition, as copper is retained, it builds up in the brain and influences our neurotransmitters and results in fatigue, worsening anxiety, low energy, and depression. The adrenals also become highly stressed due to copper’s overstimulation. This makes a woman feel stuck in survival mode. Serotonin in the body is also oxidized, and as a result, mood changes, emotional numbness, OCD tendencies, and apathy may result. This also influences a womans perception, can affect relationships and can lead to a desire to withdrawal socially. To add fuel to the fire, along the way, histamine breakdown in the body is blocked so sometimes copper overloaded women will will experience hives and rashes.
One more I will mention is that thyroid dysfunction can occur. This happens as potassium levels drop + calcium levels rise due to unbound copper. This results in a high calcium to potassium ratio, which is known as a thyroid ratio on HTMA. The higher this ratio, the slower the thyroid. This leads to symptoms like:
Chronic fatigue + exhaustion (but feeling wired due to copper)
Brain fog
Hair loss
Joint aches + pain
These symptoms all seem separate, so as she goes to her primary care doctor, she is either offered additional medication for anxiety + depression, or referred to another specialist. Or on the other hand, if she sees a functional or naturopath provider, she may be offered countless supplements for her symptoms, with no relief, and sometimes feeling worse, due to the burden supplements can have on the liver + other minerals. This leads to a woman feeling defeated, lost in the system, and feeling like a burden on her family. There is a better way, and you are not alone.
But reversing these compensations the body has made to protect you over the years + optimizing your body’s capacity to regulate copper has to be done slowly and layers at a time, and is not something you should attempt to do on your own. Want to learn how to view your body as a whole and access functional lab testing like HTMA?
Join my monthly functional health membership!
Sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006899313014200
Breslau, N. A., McGUIRE, J. L., Zerwekh, J. E., & Pak, C. Y. (1982). The role of dietary sodium on renal excretion and intestinal absorption of calcium and on vitamin D metabolism. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 55(2), 369-373. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-55-2-369
Lemann, J., Jr, Pleuss, J. A., & Gray, R. W. (1993). Potassium causes calcium retention in healthy adults. The Journal of nutrition, 123(9), 1623–1626. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/123.9.1623
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4105953/
