Vitamins and Copper

Some vitamins work with copper in your body (synergists) and some work against copper (antagonists).

If the copper levels in your body are too high, it can cause a deficiency in the vitamins that are antagonistic to copper. For example if you have too much copper in your body, you can acquire a deficiency in Vitamins A, C, B5, B6 and niacin.

The higher the copper levels in your body, the more vitamin C you require. However, if you take too much vitamin C and you're deficient in copper, you may be more susceptible to infections.

The vitamins that are synergistic to copper are Vitamins B1, B12, C, D and folic acid. These vitamins work with copper and help to maintain the proper copper balance.

If you notice, Vitamin C is both an antagonist and a synergist. How can that be? It depends on the level of vitamin C in the body. At certain levels it's an antagonist and at other levels it's a synergist. This is one reason why it's really important to make sure you're giving your body exactly the nutrients it needs in the proper balance.

Find out more...

Some Conditions That May Occur With Copper Toxicity

Here is a list of conditions that may be present when the copper level is elevated. However, remember that the conditions may have other associated deficiencies or imbalances as a single mineral elevation or deficiency rarely exists. This list is not absolute, only a sample of disorders that may show copper toxicity.

• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  
• Toxemia
  
• Post partum depression
  
• Gallstones
  
• Viral infections
  
• Epstein-Barr virus
  
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  
• Anorexia
  
• Bulemia
  
• Candidiasis
  
• Fungal infections
  
• Scoliosis
  
• Dyslexia

Learn how to determine if your mineral levels are out of balance and causing you health challenges.

Copper Toxicity

Your body needs a certain amount of copper, but too much copper is not good for you. Remember that the old adage, "If a little is good, more is better," is NOT generally TRUE, especially when it comes to certain nutrients, including copper.

Copper toxicity is a problem in the U.S. Often it's a result of copper water pipes in your home. It may also come from anti-fungal sprays used on vegetable and grain crops. Another source is meat, if the animal's food was supplemented with copper.

Your metabolic rate can be a factor in your body's ability to retain copper. People with a slow metabolic rate retain more copper than those with a fast rate. Vegetarians tend to retain copper more than non-vegetarians.

More next time.

Learn how you can make sure your body is getting the right amount or copper and all the other nutrients as well.

Dis-ease Conditions Related to Copper Deficiency

• Anemia
  
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
  
• Multiple Sclerosis
  
• Parkinson's
  
• Menkes Disease
  
• Heart Disease
  
• Gout
  
• High Blood Pressure
  
• Allergies
  
• Osteoporosis
  
• Insomnia
  
• Emotional Disturbances
  
• Hyperactivity
  
• Antibiotic Sensitivity
  
• Hyperglycemia

If you have one of these conditions, don't go running to the health food store to buy a copper supplement. Copper deficiency is commonly found in all these conditions, but deficiencies of a single mineral rarely occur. Generally there is a mineral imbalance involving numerous minerals. Learn more...

Your Body's Need for Copper

Copper is an essential nutrient. It's found in many tissues and organs of the body and is a vital component of numerous key cellular enzymes. A copper deficiency can disturb these enzyme functions. Too much copper, on the other hand is toxic.

Have you ever worn a copper bracelet, or know someone who has? Maybe you noticed that it made you feel better. If so, you were likely deficient in copper and the copper absorbed through your skin was helping to reduce the deficiency. Conversely, if you didn't notice any improvement, your body probably didn't need additional copper to affect the symptoms that were causing you discomfort. You may even have been contributing to a build up of copper beyond the levels needed by your body.

Some situations related to copper imbalance include:

• iron-deficient anemia that doesn't improve with iron supplementation
  
• chocolate cravings
  
• moodiness or depression after you eat particular foods
  
• premenstrual frontal headaches
  
• increased susceptibility to flu or colds premenstrually

More on copper deficiency mext time...

Remember, rarely do mineral deficiencies occur with a single mineral. Generally there is an imbalance involving a number of minerals. Learn more...

Vitamins and Minerals Associated with Magnesium

Magnesium, like all minerals, is important for your health. Your body uses magnesium extensively in many of its biological processes. But magnesium doesn't work alone. It works in conjunction with other minerals and vitamins, both synergistically (working together) and antagonistically (working against each other).

The vitamins and minerals that work with magnesium - synergistically - include:

• calcium
  
• potassium
  
• phosphorus
  
• zinc
  
• chromium
  
• manganese
  
• vitamin A
  
• vitamin B1
  
• vitamin B2
  
• vitamin B3
  
• vitamin C
  
• vitamin E

The vitamins and minerals that work against magnesium - antagonistically - include:

• calcium
  
• potassium
  
• phosphorus
  
• sodium
  
• iron
  
• manganese
  
• cadmium
  
• lead
  
• vitamin B1
  
• vitamin B6
  
• vitamin B10
  
• vitamin B12
  
• vitamin C
  
• vitamin D
  
• vitamin E

Take a look at these lists carefully. You'll notice that there are some of the same minerals and vitamins that are both synergists and antagonists.

How can this be?

It depends on the amount of the nutrient present in your body. If you get too much magnesium, too much calcium, too much iron, too much of any vitamin or mineral, it can have an adverse effect rather than beneficial. According to Dr. David Watts, author of Trace Elements and Other Essential Nutrients, "maintaining mineral content in the body is like walking a tightrope."

If you really want to feel good, not catch every cold or flu that goes around, and protect yourself from the modern diseases that are rampant in our society today, then you need to maintain an optimal vitamin and mineral balance in your body.

Learn more here...

Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

• anxiety
  
• short temper
  
• hyper-irritability
  
• muscle tremors
  
• memory loss
  
• inability to concentrate
  
• depression
  
• hyperactivity in children
  
• excessive perspiration
  
• foul body odor
  
• muscle cramps
  
• fluid retention
  
• high cholesterol
  
• high triglycerides
  
• toxic shock syndrome
  
• insomnia
  
• PMS
  
• depression

These are only some of the symptoms that may occur when there is a magnesium deficiency. These symptoms may also occur in situations other than magnesium deficiency. So just because you have some of these symptoms does not definitely mean that you have a magnesium deficiency. And rarely is there a deficiency of a single nutrient. Most commonly there is a mineral imbalance involving a number of minerals.

So, don't run to the health food store and stock up on magnesium if you have a number of the symptoms in the above list. First read this...

Magnesium - An Important Companion For Calcium

Your body needs minerals in the proper balance. Some minerals work together. They're called synergists. Some minerals work against each other. They're antagonists. Some minerals are both synergistic and antagonistic to the same mineral, depending on the amount available in your tissues.

Calcium and magnesium work together so that your muscles can function properly. Calcium causes your muscles to contract. Magnesium causes your muscles to relax.

If you don't have enough magnesium in your tissues, your muscles will not be able to relax normally. You'll have chronic muscle tension or tight muscles. You may also get muscle cramps with slight exertion.

Too little magnesium will cause excess calcium to build up in your tissues.

Other nutrients synergistic to calcium include phosphorus, sodium, copper, potassium, selenium, vitamins A, C, D and E.

Of these nutrients that are synergistic to calcium, besides magnesium, the following are also antagonistic: phosphorus, sodium, potassium and vitamin A.

If you're thinking that this is really complicated, you're right! That's why it's important to know what nutrients your body needs before you start feeding it a lot of supplements off the health food store shelf. Not taking any supplements isn't the answer either. Find out what is...

Blood Calcium vs. Tissue Calcium

If you have a blood test and the calcium level in your blood is measured, it tells you how much calcium was circulating in your blood at the time of the test. It doesn't tell you anything about the level of calcium stored in your tissues. The level of calcium stored in your tissues may not match the level that shows up in your blood. In other words, you could have a normal or high level of calcium in your blood and your tissue calcium can be low.

How can this be?

Your body needs to maintain a certain range of calcium in your blood. If the level drops too low, calcium will be drawn from the tissues in order to maintain blood levels. If there is too much calcium in your blood, it will be deposited into your tissues.

Your blood gives you the levels of minerals in your body for a moment in time. Your tissues tell the story of mineral levels in your body over a period of time.

Learn more here...

The Hazards of Too Much Calcium in Your Tissues

Calcium is an important mineral for your health. However, like all minerals, you need calcium in the proper balance with the other essential minerals. Too much calcium can be as detrimental as too little calcium.

Here's a list of some conditions that can occur as a result of too much tissue calcium:

• depression
  
• fatigue
  
• insomnia
  
• headaches
  
• memory loss
  
• poor concentration
  
• panic attacks
  
• anxiety
  
• paranoia
  
• virus infections
  
• adult-onset diabetes
  
• muscle aches and pains
  
• frequency of urination
  
• constipation
  
• flatulence
  
• low blood pressure

Perhaps you or somebody you know has some or many of these symptoms or conditions. Does this mean you should not take calcium supplements or eat foods rich in calcium? Maybe, maybe not.

Although these symptoms can be caused by too much calcium in your tissues, this is not the only cause of these symptoms. You need to determine the mineral balance in your tissues, and only then will you know if you should be taking calcium supplements and eating calcium rich foods.

Learn more here...

Too Little Calcium in Your Tissues

Most people are aware that too little calcium can cause ostroporosis. But that's not all.

Here's a list of a few other conditions that have been found in people with too little tissue calcium:

• anxiety
  
• hypersensitivity
  
• irritability
  
• hyperactivity
  
• allergies
  
• hypertension
  
• rheumatoid arthritis
  
• insomnia
  
• muscle cramps, especially at night

So, if you have any of these conditions, should you start taking calcium supplements?

If you know for a fact that you do have low tissue calcium, the right kind of calcium supplements might help. But wait! A single mineral deficiency is not common. It's more common to find a mineral imbalance involving several minerals. By adding only a calcium supplement, you may cause an even greater imbalance.

So, what should you do?

First your need to find out exactly what is in and out of balance and precisely what your body needs. Learn more here.

Do You Need to Take Calcium Supplements?

Calcium is important for strong bones and teeth. It's also important in the functoning of your heart, cells, nerves and endocrine system.

Makes you think that everyone should be taking calcium supplements or eating high calcium foods, right? Well, not necessarily. It depends on your metabolism and the mineral balance in your body.

If you have a fast metabolism, you will most likely benefit from high calcium foods and highly utilizable calcium supplements.

If you have a slow metabolism, you most likely should not be eating high calcium foods or taking calcium supplements. Why? Because if you have a slow metabolism, you probably already have an excess of calcium in your tissues. And more calcium will slow your metabolism even more.

But beware! Before you start deciding whether you should eat high calcium foods or take calcium supplements based upon whether you think your metabolism is fast or slow, you need to make sure you know whether your metabolism really is fast or slow. It may not be what you think!

How do you find out for sure? Learn more here...

Stress and Your Mineral Levels

Did you know that stress can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies?

When you are under stress for long periods of time, your body uses more vitamins and minerals. If you do not replace the nutrients lost during these times, you will develop nutritional deficiencies. If these deficiencies continue or get worse, you will eventually experience health problems which may develop into a disease condition.

Learn how to make sure your are getting the precise nutrients your body needs and protect your health.

Your Metabolism

Did you know that the mineral balance in your body determines whether you have a fast or slow metabolism?

If you have a slow metabolism, you're likely to have high tissue levels of calcium and magnesium. On the other hand, if you have a fast metabolism, you're likely to have high tissue levels of sodium, potassium and phosphorus.

When you're metabolism is slow and you have excess tissue calcium and magnesium, if you take calcium or magnesium supplements, you're contributing to slowing your metabolism even more.

But, you might ask, doesn't everyone need to take calcium supplements to insure strong bones and teeth? The answer is NO! It all depends on your body chemistry. You need to have the proper minerals in the right balance for your body.

Learn more here...

Some Important Points to Remember about Minerals

If you take nutritional supplements, you might be disrupting your mineral balance. But not taking supplements isn't the answer either.

You need to make sure you're getting all the minerals you need in the proper balance.

Here's why:

Taking too much iron can contribute to certain types of cancer.
Too little iron can have the same effect.

Iron deficiency can cause anemia.
Taking too much iron can also cause a certain type of anemia.

Calcium supplements can help prevent osteoporosis.
They can also contribute to brittle bones in some people.

A vitamin C deficiency can allow copper to build up to toxic levels.
Too much copper can cause an iron, selenium or potassium deficiency.
Too much vitamin C can cause a copper deficiency, and excess iron.

The key is balance. You need to get all the nutrients you need in the proper balance.

Reference: Trace Elements and Other Essential Nutrients, by Dr. David L. Watts

Find out how to do that here...

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Vitamins and minerals work both together (synergistic) and against each other (antagonistic). Some minerals are both synergistic and antagonistic to the same nutrient.

A good example is calcium and phosphorus. Calcium and phosphorus are antagonists. If you take too much calcium, it could cause a phosphorus deficiency. The opposite is also true. Too much phosphorus can cause a calcium deficiency.

But even though they are antagonists, they also work together. Calcium and phosphorus in the proper balance are important for strong bones and teeth.

This synergistic-antagonistic relationship between calcium and phosphorus is not unique. The interrelationships between the different vitamins and minerals is very complex and requires a delicate balance to maintain the proper nutritional balance in your body.

So, what does this mean for you?

If you take vitamin and mineral supplements, there's a very good chance that you're not getting exactly what your body needs and you may have a nutritional imbalance.

Does this mean that you should forget about taking vitamin and mineral supplements and just eat a good diet?

No. It's very difficult to get all the nutrients your body needs from food alone. The soils our food is grown on is generally nutrient deficient, even if you eat organic food.

The key to good health is making sure that your body gets all the nutrients it needs - in the proper balance. The way to do that is to have your nutritional program, your diet and your vitamin and mineral supplements, customized to your body chemistry.

Learn more here...

What is Custom Nutrition?

Custom Nutrition is customizing your your diet and nutritional supplementation to your body's individual nutritional needs.

You are unique, and so are your body's nutritional requirements. Custom nutrition supports your body's unique nutritional needs with food and supplements that are designed to enhance your body chemistry.

Some vitamins and minerals work together. Others work against each other. Some work to speed up your metabolism. Others work to slow down your metabolism.

To be truly healthy, you need to give your body the nutrients it needs to function optimally. You don't want to be eating or taking supplements that speed up an already fast metabolism or slow down a slow metabolism.

Learn more...