VIDEO: How a long term vegetarian diet exacerbates copper toxicity

In the video above, I share a sneak peek into a client's Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) graph.

Her HTMA results are what is called an extreme Slow 1 oxidative type with elevated tissue copper. In this oxidative type, food is burned at a slower-than-optimum rate. 'Oxidation' means to burn. This oxidation rate is mainly determined by how well the thyroid and adrenal glands are functioning. In this case, both are underactive, therefore the metabolism is slowed way down. A great example is like driving with the parking break on.

When this two glands are 'sluggish' (at the cellular level) the symptoms can include; fatigue, depression, constipation, difficulty losing weight, poor circulation, low blood pressure, dry skin and hair. As well one may tend to get sick more easily and recover slowly.

In the video, I cover the first four macro minerals and 3 key ratios that explain the top health concerns she came to me for; fatigue, digestion and bloating. As well as the top reason her tissue copper is elevated; her long term vegetarian diet.

Zinc to copper in the diet should be a ratio of 15:1 (favoring zinc). It is well known in mineral balancing that a vegetarian diet puts individuals at a higher risk of accumulating excess copper. Now, just how 'toxic' the accumulation becomes depends on how long the person has followed their plant based diet. As well as other factors such as the strength of their detox pathways, how they handle stress and if any other excess sources of copper are playing a role.

Everyone reacts differently, and elevated copper levels do not necessarily translate into symptoms, initially. However, almost across the board, through HTMA data looking at the tissue level of copper, I have seen (as well as my colleagues and mentors) that the copper toxic pattern is very much typical in a long-term vegan/vegetarian client.

Symptoms of excess or unregulated copper include:

● tired & wired
● easily upset and emotional
● mood swings
● anxiety/mania/depression
● anger and violence
● mental illnesses (bi-polar, ADHD, schizophrenia, depression)
● concentration & memory problems
● strong self-criticism
● headache/migraine
● tiredness and exhaustion
● insomnia
● poor immune response
● skin problems
● hair loss
● yeast infection
● high estrogen (bloating, low libido, PMT)
● joint aches and pains

Helping to regulate and balance copper is a core of what I focus on in my client's game plans when it's present.

If you want to more examples like this, head on over to read more:  

How minerals are your bodies spark and energy.
What total burnout looks like on a hair tissue mineral analysis graph