dietary zink vs copper

CCS

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Copper is in so many foods in higher amounts than zinc. Sesame seeds are loaded with copper. Even with my multi-vitamin, which has 100% of each, I'm getting about twice as much copper as zinc in RDA terms. Does that mean the copper will compete with the zinc and I won't get as much zinc as I need? What are some better sources o zinc, if you know off hand? I'm searching the nutritiondata.com data base. Chicken has more zink than copper, but has so little of each that it does not matter.
 

CCS

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well, red meet is the most typical source they say. Half a pound will get you 100% of your RDA. 4 cups of rolled oats will get you 100% of zinc and copper, but the phytic acid may impair absorption, as is true with most plant nutrients from seeds, grains, etc. Leaves have oxalic acid. I think I'll get some zinc pills.
 

CCS

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http://www.easycart.net/BeyondACenturyI ... s/3037.jpg

I'd cut those in half and have a 6-7 month supply for $6. I just got to wait a bit longer till I'm ready to order other stuff since shipping is $5. An extra 100% of the RDA should offset the copper from my sesame seeds. Actually maybe I should skip the sesame seeds and this supplement. I read copper is an anti-oxidant in low amounts, and a free radical at higher amounts. I thought it was a free radical above 10mg, but some other site said 2mg (the RDA), so I believe the 10mg figure but will think about this.
 

notself

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Zinc-rich foods include seafood, hard cheeses, nuts, seeds, meat, etc..

High intake of zinc prevents copper absorption. More typical intakes of zinc do not affect copper absorption and high copper intakes do not affect zinc absorption.

I take vitamin C + zinc if I am coming down with a cold.
 

hairwegoagain

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116-284-Centrum_Complete_From_A_To_Zinc-150thumbnail.jpg
 

CCS

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High copper does not prevent zinc absorption, but high zinc does prevent copper absorption? Are you sure about that? That is good. I can get all I need in my diet, but I was just bothered I was getting twice as much copper as zinc. I guess I don't have to worry about that now.

Yes, I have some cheap, generic centrum silver. I cut it in half and talk one half in the morning and the other half at night, chewed.
 

notself

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Careful not to take too much zinc. Aside from inhibiting copper it affects cholesterol metabolism and can accelerate atherosclerosis when taken too much.

Also, zinc interacts with iron too. Large doses of zinc inhibits iron absorption and the reverse is also true (but not for copper).

Zinc supplementation can easily cause imbalances because of its interactions with iron and copper absorption.

Hope this helps.
 

CCS

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does copper become a free radical above 2mg per day, or is it 10mg?

I'm skipping the zinc supplement then. My centrum silver has all I need.
 

notself

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Estimated safe for adults 1.5 - 3.0 mg /day (reference may vary, RDA is 900 mcg/day but RDA values are sufficient to prevent deficiency only). Copper deficiency is rare (seen in malnourished kids). Water also provides copper but it is dependent on plumbing pipe and hardness of water.

Some sources: legumes, nuts, grains, organ meats, seeds, etc.

If your multivitamin has this mineral then no need for a supplement. About a third of the copper in taken in food is absorbed.

10 mg would cause toxicity.
 

CCS

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good to know. I'll skip the sesame then. I never like the taste of them anyway.
 

RAKBS

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The body's preference is calcium>zinc>copper, so it will take the first two beore it takes copper. Calcium, for example, prevents an extra 10% of zinc being absorbed if present in sufficient amounts.

And the upper tolerable limit for zinc is 40 mg without any negative side effecfts, but I take 50 milligrams with 1 extra milligram of copper per day.
 

notself

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As a general rule I wouldn't recommend people take trace elements without a true cause of illness or deficiency. If you are then please test your liver enzymes profile. Trace elements in multivitamins are fine though.

Why not take B-complex with vitamin C?
 
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