Copper, an essential trace mineral, is vitally important for both physical and mental health. It has been studied for years, including at government laboratories.Cognitive approach to learning styles however, its importance for health is still largely unappreciated. The following is but an introduction. The author is deeply indebted to dr.Cognitive approach to learning styles paul C. Eck, an avid copper researcher.

Copper is critical for energy production in the cells. It is also involved in nerve conduction, connective tissue, the cardiovascular system and the immune system.Cognitive approach to learning styles copper is closely related to estrogen metabolism, and is required for women's fertility and to maintain pregnancy. Copper stimulates production of the neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine.Cognitive approach to learning styles it is also required for monoamine oxidase, an enzyme related to serotonin production.

Physical conditions associated with copper imbalance include arthritis, fatigue, adrenal burnout, insomnia, scoliosis, osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, migraine headaches, seizures, fungal and bacterial infections including yeast infection, gum disease, tooth decay, skin and hair problems and female organ conditions including uterine fibroids, endometriosis and others.Cognitive approach to learning styles

Mental and emotional disorders related to copper imbalance include spaciness, depression, mood swings, fears, anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, violence, autism, schizophrenia, and attention deficit disorder.Cognitive approach to learning styles copper deficiency is associated with aneurysms, gout, anemia and osteoporosis. Interestingly, the symptoms of premenstrual tension are identical to the symptoms of copper imbalance.Cognitive approach to learning styles

Stress from any cause contributes to copper imbalance. Stress depletes the adrenal glands and lowers the zinc level in the body. Whenever zinc becomes deficient, copper tends to accumulate.Cognitive approach to learning styles our soil is low in zinc. Refined sugar, white rice and white flour have been stripped of their zinc. The trend toward vegetarianism reduces zinc in the diet, since red meat is the best dietary source of zinc.Cognitive approach to learning styles

Other sources of copper are copper cookware, dental materials, vitamin pills, fungicides and pesticides residues on food, copper intra-uterine devices and birth control pills.Cognitive approach to learning styles mrs. Robinson and her 6-month-old, breast-fed baby both began to experience hair loss. The cause was a daily prenatal vitamin containing 4 milligrams of copper, far too much for this high-copper mother.Cognitive approach to learning styles

When the personality is not fully integrated or the copper becomes too high, negative traits show up. These include spaciness, racing thoughts, living in a dream world, childishness, excessive emotions, sentimentality, a tendency to depression, fearfulness, hidden anger and resentments, phobias, psychosis and violence.Cognitive approach to learning styles artists, inventors and other high-copper types often "live on the edge", in part due to their high copper level.

The copper personality tends to accumulate copper easily.Cognitive approach to learning styles copper functions as a psychological defense mechanism. It causes one to detach slightly from reality. This provides relief from stress for the sensitive individual.Cognitive approach to learning styles it works well as long as the copper does not become too high. Very high copper can cause a psychotic break from reality, a type of schizophrenia.Cognitive approach to learning styles

Is it possible that our mineral balance affects our attitudes? Copper is called the 'psychic' mineral, the 'intuitive' mineral, and a 'feminine' mineral because it is so important for the female reproductive system.Cognitive approach to learning styles its level generally parallels that of estrogen. While many factors influence our attitudes and values, the rise in tissue copper levels in both men and women in the past twenty years parallels renewed interest in feminism, in psychic and intuitive knowledge, and 'nurturing' movements such as environmentalism.Cognitive approach to learning styles

Copper-toxic women are often estrogen dominant. They may benefit from progesterone therapy to help balance their hormones. Women with biounavailable copper are often low in estrogen.Cognitive approach to learning styles their bodies are often more linear in shape. Of course, copper is not the only factor affecting hormones. Some pesticides, for example, mimic the effects of estrogen and can affect the hormone balance.Cognitive approach to learning styles

Persistent elevated copper levels in children are common today. The problem often begins during gestation, when high-copper mothers pass on excessive copper (and often low zinc) to the fetus through the placenta.Cognitive approach to learning styles this is called congenital, rather than genetic high copper. It can be prevented by correcting one's copper metabolism before becoming pregnant.Cognitive approach to learning styles after birth, poor nutrition, stress in the home, and overuse of prescription drugs can aggravate a child's copper imbalance.

Excess copper interferes with zinc, a mineral needed to make digestive enzymes.Cognitive approach to learning styles too much copper also impairs thyroid activity and the functioning of the liver. If severe enough, a person will become an obligatory vegetarian.Cognitive approach to learning styles this means they are no longer able to digest meat very well. Conversely, if one becomes a vegetarian for other reasons, most likely one's copper level will increase.Cognitive approach to learning styles vegetarian proteins are higher in copper, and lower in zinc.

At times, the vegetarian orientation is health-producing. In many people, however, restricted diets do not work well.Cognitive approach to learning styles fatigue, spaciness and other symptoms begin to appear. Many people, including the author, felt they were becoming more spiritual on a vegetarian diet, when in fact it was just copper poisoning!Cognitive approach to learning styles the taste for meat often returns when copper is brought into better balance.

Compulsive behavior may be related to copper and the adrenals. Exercise, for example, stimulates the adrenals.Cognitive approach to learning styles this helps keep copper available and makes one feel better. If one stops exercising, unbound copper builds up and one may feel fatigue, mood swings and depression.Cognitive approach to learning styles in some people, this can create a compulsive need to exercise. Other ways to temporarily control copper toxicity include the use of caffeine or other stimulants.Cognitive approach to learning styles

Challenge tests with a chelating agent such as EDTA may be used to detect excess copper. Several indirect indicators on a hair mineral test are also excellent to detect copper imbalance.Cognitive approach to learning styles these include a hair calcium level greater than about 100 mg%, a potassium level less than about 3 mg%, a sodium/potassium ratio less than 2.5:1, a zinc/copper ratio less than 6:1, an elevated mercury level or a copper level less than 1.0 mg%.Cognitive approach to learning styles

• balance body chemistry, enhance energy production and improve adrenal gland activity. To support the adrenal glands, avoid sweets, eat protein with each meal, and supplement your diet with vitamins A, C and E, manganese, zinc and B-complex vitamins.Cognitive approach to learning styles animal protein is very helpful due to its higher content of zinc, B-vitamins and sulfur amino acids including cysteine and taurine. Adrenal glandular substance is also frequently helpful.Cognitive approach to learning styles

One of the difficulties in reducing excess copper are symptoms that arise during the process of elimination. As the body begins to mobilize excess copper from tissue storage sites, it enters the bloodstream on its way to the liver and kidneys for elimination.Cognitive approach to learning styles while in the bloodstream, the copper can cause headaches, skin rashes, racing thoughts, strange odors, digestive upset, mood swings and energy fluctuations.Cognitive approach to learning styles in men, testicular pain is not uncommon. Women s periods may be affected. If one knows what is occurring, it is possible to take measures to minimize these temporary elimination symptoms.Cognitive approach to learning styles enemas, sweating, and drinking more water can help promote copper elimination. Reducing the nutrition program for a few days may also help slow the reactions and reduce symptoms if they are severe.Cognitive approach to learning styles supplements particularly molybdenum, bile acids, laxative herbs and vitamin B6 may also mitigate elimination symptoms.

Adequate rest and sleep are important.Cognitive approach to learning styles any technique to help handle stress is also helpful. A simple but powerful technique for handling all negative emotions is given in an excellent book, emissary of light, by james twyman.Cognitive approach to learning styles he suggests feeling our negative emotions purely, dissociating them from thoughts. Feel them in the body. Then move the feeling to the heart area, visualize a small door just in front of you, open the door and release the emotion.Cognitive approach to learning styles realize that all feelings are just energies. They can be transmuted, sent forth and used for good.