For many years I have been periodically supplementing with some zinc in various forms, but lately copper has come up as an interesting mineral in this forum; so I have been digging a little;
These two minerals are antagonists so when supplementing one of them, the other is needed too, in the right ratio.
And when speaking of copper and zinc, one has to include other minerals too, as they all interact; iron, manganese etc. They all require VIT. B for their uptake.
I found two web sites of special interest; soilminerals and ithyroid. The former claim that red wine contains a lot of copper, the latter claim that beer is full of it; I like both! Other good copper sources are; chocolate, brazil nuts, cashew nuts, liver. full list below.


http://www.soilminerals.com/information.htm


"The other elements in Copper's specific group (group 1B, directly below it on the table) are Silver (Ag) and Gold (Au), which puts it in some racy company.

Copper is the key to elasticity in the plant. It is an important constituent of many proteins like ascorbic acid oxidase, cytochrome oxidase, diamine oxidase, and polyphenol oxidase. Copper is an important nutrient for many microbes, such as Aspergillis niger. It controls molds and often alleviates perceived zinc deficiencies. Copper interacts with iron and manganese. Andersen Science In Agriculture p236

Bordeaux mixture and Burgundy mixture are two famous sprays used to control fungus in vineyards. Developed in their eponymous provinces of France, Bordeaux mix is copper sulfate, mason's lime (calcium hydroxide), and water; Burgundy mix is copper sulfate, sodium carbonate (washing soda), and water."
Uses of Copper Compounds: Copper Sulphate's Role in Agriculture

Copper sulphate has many agricultural uses but the following are the more important ones:

* Preparation of Bordeaux and Burgundy mixtures on the farm


* Control of fungus diseases


* Correction of copper deficiency in soils


* Correction of copper deficiency in animals


* Stimulation of growth for fattening pigs and broiler chickens


* A molluscicide for the destruction of slugs and snails, particularly the snail host of the liver fluke"



"In the 1930s Dr. Weston A. Price investigated the traditional diets of isolated peoples around the world. High in the Andes mountains of South America he discovered the native peoples relied on dried fish eggs and seaweed brought from the ocean to supply trace minerals and other factors lacking in their diet. He writes "The kelp provided a very rich source of Iodine as well as copper, which is very important to them in the utilization of iron for building an exceptionally efficient quality of blood for carrying oxygen liberally at those high altitudes. W. A. Price, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration p 265

Copper functions in the body as an enzyme co-factor, formation of hemoglobin and red blood cells, protein metabolism, synthesis of phospholipids, vitamin C oxidation, production of elastin, and formation of RNA. Signs of possible deficiency are white hair, liver cirrhosis, allergies, parasites, hernia, anemia, hyper/hypo thyroidism, arthritis, ruptured disc and iron storage disease. Walters, Minerals for the Genetic Code p122.




http://www.ithyroid.com/copper.htm

http://www.ithyroid.com/zinc.htm

http://www.ithyroid.com/vitamins.htm


Copper, Zinc, and Sex

"One unique thing about copper is that women need more of it than men. This seems to be primarily because copper is required for the production of the enzymes which convert progesterone into estrogen. Men, however, require more zinc, which seems to be the mineral necessary to form the enzymes which convert progesterone into testosterone.

Studies show that copper intake in America is borderline or inadequate. Foods that contain copper, such as nuts and seeds, beans and other legumes, lobster, and crab, are not eaten, especially by women who need more copper, because of beliefs that these foods are fattening or contain toxic substances (shellfish). Other foods like beer and chocolate are good sources of copper but because of the other ingredients, alcohol in beer, and caffeine and Sugar in chocolate, they are not consumed in amounts sufficient for women.

Because copper content of the average diet is marginal, men are generally able to get enough copper for two reasons: first, their requirement for copper is slightly less; second, most men drink beer. Beer contains reasonably high levels of two critical minerals: copper and selenium. Probably men have a drive to drink beer for its selenium content which is necessary for testosterone production, and as a by-product consume a lot of copper. Because copper slows down the thyroid, this is the probable reason that drinkers of beer put on weight and get a "beer-belly."

Women, on the other hand, driven by a desire to stay thin, generally avoid the high copper foods because of the perception (which is correct) that the high copper foods can cause weight gain."

"There is very little scientific evidence that copper is involved in immune system function, but it is my belief that copper deficiency is the principal nutritional deficiency involved in autoimmune diseases."


COPPER CONTENT IN FOOD - (Milligrams)


1 oz baking chocolate (unsweetened, dark) - .748
1 Tbsp molasses, blackstrap - .284
1 cup whole milk - .50
1 avocado - .527
10 dried figs - .585
1 cup raisins - .498
1/4 lb beef liver - 3.2
1/4 lb lamb liver - 6.2
1/4 lb veal liver - 9.0
1 duck liver - 2.62
1 goose liver - 7.07
1 turkey liver - .512

NUTS -
1/2 Cup almonds - .59
1/2 C Brazil nuts - 1.07
1/2 C cashews - 1.41
1/2 C hazelnuts - .86
1/2 C peanuts - .31
1/2 C pecans - .57
1/2 C shelled pistachios - .76
1/2 C pine nuts - 1.16
1/2 C pumpkin or squash seeds - .95
1/2 C sesame seeds - 1.2
1/2 C sunflower seeds -1.29
1/2 C walnuts - .70
2 Tbsp tahini (sesame seed butter) - .48

FISH -
1/4 lb cod - .57
1/4 lb haddock - .26
1/4 lb herring - .34
1/4 lb salmon - .22
1/4 lb trout - .37
1/2 cup tuna - .10
SHELLFISH -
1/4 lb crab - 1.47
1/4 lb lobster - 2.49
1/4 lb oysters - 1.36
1/4 lb scallops - .14
1/4 lb shrimp - .49
3.5 oz snails - .40
1 c asparagus - .20
1 c collard greens - .484
1 c cooked kidney beans .647
1 c cooked lentils - .54
1 c cooked lima beans - .519
1 c okra - .94
1 c paraley - .293
1 c green peas - .257
1 c cooked split peas - .50
3 medium pimientos - .60
1 c potato - .388
1 lg baking potato - flesh and skin - .26
1 c pumpkin - .33
1 c soybean sprouts - .30
1 cup spinach - .32
1 sweet potato - .22
1 cup tomato juice - .246
1 cup yams - .484