I recently had a hair mineral test done. It’s one of my favourite tests that i’ve found this last year and so helpful in my own health journey.
I find the test such a valuable tool with my clients now also, as it gives us a look into the bodies mineral levels, especially over the last 3 months. The hair is taken from the roots at the back of the head, underneath (so no don’t worry it doesn’t show) and results come back in 2 weeks with a report.
I find all the information out there linked to minerals and our health amazingly helpful and with each report that comes back ,the mineral imbalance or toxicity have been spot on with symptoms my clients have been having. It also gives you a good idea of what supplements you need and the ones you don’t, instead of just guessing!
From what i’ve learnt mineral balance is VERY important for a vibrantly healthy body. Our bodies are always working at trying to keep these in perfect balance but due to diets, stress, chemicals, and heavy metals we can find ourselves out of balance, and this can cause health problems. Left undetected, such subtle nutrient disparities can have devastating and chronic impacts on health.
My own hair analysis came back showing that my copper was too high, and this wasn’t really a surprise to me. I do have some symptoms of copper toxicity and it was one of the reasons I started eating meat again, to help with my zinc levels which had got low on a close to vegan diet. I was actually drawn to eating more animal foods before I knew about my copper toxicity and zinc deficiany., which just shows that the body knows what it’s doing, it was telling me I needed more zinc and animal foods are a good source for me personally.
Copper toxicity is something I believe I may of had for a while.. maybe even since being a teenager, I used to swim a lot and do synchronised swimming in a old fashioned pool. Old swimming pools with copper pipes can cause copper overload in the body.
Copper toxicity can also cause endometriosis which is what I was diagnosed with in my early 20’s. Luckily I have been able to manage all symptoms of this through following a healthy holistic lifestyle for 10 years now. I don’t have any symptoms of endo at all now.
Copper Toxicity can also cause depression, and I did struggle with this especially in my teens, and it’s the reason I love yoga, meditation, journalling, walking in nature, eating well, these are all my tools to keep myself in a good high vibe place.
Other symptoms of copper & zinc imbalance
- fatigue
- depression
- anxiety
- severe PMS
- learning disabilities
- headaches
- impaired memory
- behavior changes
- loss of appetite and taste perception
- slowed sexual maturation
- sensitive skin
- hair loss
- diarrhea
- delayed wound healing
Because I did go the route of a raw vegan, and then high raw, for a number of years. I feel I did not get enough of the essential mineral zinc which would of helped with my copper toxicity. The raw vegan lifestyle was a great cleanse for me and I loved what I learnt from it,and I went that way for a reason, I believe that everything happens for a reason, but I am now much more aware of how unique everyone is, and health is about really finding balance and making sure you are getting all the minerals you need. Zinc is so important and I didn’t realise at the time that I was just not getting any where near enough for my already copper toxic body.
Copper excess and zinc deficiency is actually very common and this is because of a few reasons. The common problem being that most people are eating copper dominant foods and not enough zinc strong foods.
Most people are deficient in zinc. Plant sources of zinc are bound by anti-nutrients like phytic acid and therefore not easily absorbed. While irritating phytates can be neutralized by the processes of soaking and sprouting nuts nuts, legumes and grains (as was practiced in many traditional cultures), your average handful of granola, slice of bread have certainly not been prepared with such care.
Zinc Rich Foods:
- Red meat,
- Egg yolk,
- Organ meats,
- Seafood-
- Certain nuts, seeds,
Beef/lamb liver and oysters are by far the best sources of this powerful mineral, with four times the absorption rate of their plant counterparts, and a balanced ratio of other trace minerals.
Copper
Overall, copper is not a sweepingly bad nutrient- in fact it is critical to the formation of many essential enzymes and is necessary for normal metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis and red blood cell formation. However, copper is highly reactive and needs to be consumed within a relatively narrow range and balanced by zinc intake- else it easily becomes dominant and suppresses the levels of other trace minerals.
Because grains and other plant-based foods tend to have a higher copper to zinc ratio, it can be driving copper levels up if intake is not properly balanced with adequate zinc-rich meats, organ meats and seafood
Another element that often goes unrecognized is copper sources existing in our environment, which can contribute to toxicity when experienced in excess. For example, chemical-treated water flowing through copper pipes into our drinking water. There is also copper found in multivitamins, medications, dental fixtures, cookware, birth control, fungicides, and pesticides. Thus while copper-containing foods are certainly not hazardous in and of themselves, the cumulative sources can become problematic if not properly balanced.
So how can I balance my copper and zinc ? Well lets see what else may be contributing to my copper toxicity ..
I have been a bit of a raw cacao monster and I can find it quite addictive, plus guess what it’s high in .. Copper! Yes. I’ve actually known intuitively that I was eating too much raw chocolate and a little voice in my head kept telling me, “it isn’t serving you” and well chocolate makes you feel good, it releases chemicals in the brain that make you feel loved, so yeah I ignored that voice for a while.
Until I saw my hair mineral report and that gave me the extra support I needed.
Another food I eat LOTS of. Nuts! Especially cashews! Oh cashews..
Yes two foods that I was eating on a daily basis for months.. and also funnily enough I had already had that little voice tell me about nuts and cashews but yes I ignored it again, as I was so enjoying my grain free waffles with cashew butter in the mornings!
Another reason I believe my body wanted more grass fed animal foods because it was craving another source of healthy fats and nuts don’t have a balanced omega profile, they are higher in omega 6, which can mess with our hormones and make us break out if we eat too many..
Foods I am avoiding:
Foods I am Loving: beautifully balanced in the trace minerals zinc and copper
- Oysters
- Liver
- Eggs
- Pumpkin seeds
- Soaked Quinoa
I am also taking certain vitamins to help as copper can antagonise certain vitamins such as your b vitamins, vitamins C and I will be taking extra good care of my adrenals (stress and cortisol) as the adrenals must be working properly to stimulate the liver to remove excess copper.
I have already done 3 weeks of no chocolate or nuts and I feel great!
I’m looking forward to balancing my zinc and copper and to know my body is in balance, it’s empowering to be able to do that 🙂
If you are interested in finding out your own mineral levels – contact me here
Lots of Love & Wellness
xx
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Holistic Health Coach at Hooked on Health
Working with Women to reach their ideal weight, awaken their passion and spark for life.
- Or if you are interested in getting started on your own Health Goals and Weight loss journey with a one-on-one consultation contact me at info@hookedonhealth.co.uk
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