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Red Cell Copper measures the amount of copper inside your red blood cells. Copper is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in various bodily functions, such as helping produce energy, forming connective tissue, and supporting the nervous and immune systems. By looking at the copper levels in red blood cells, we get a picture of your body's copper status over the past few months, since red blood cells have a lifespan of about 120 days. This test helps us understand if there's enough copper to support important processes like iron metabolism and maintaining healthy blood vessels and nerves. Monitoring red cell copper levels can reveal imbalances that might affect your overall health, guiding us toward dietary changes or treatments to restore balance.
Testing red cell copper gives valuable insight into your body's copper status, which is important because copper supports many key functions like energy production, immune defence, and nerve health. It helps identify if you're low or high in copper, so you can make dietary changes or get treatment if needed. Catching any imbalances early helps keep you healthy and prevents potential problems down the line.
Several factors can influence red cell copper levels. Your diet is a key player; not eating enough copper-rich foods like nuts, seeds, whole grains, and shellfish can lower levels, while excessive intake can raise them. Conditions that affect nutrient absorption, such as coeliac disease or chronic diarrhoea, can lead to copper deficiency. On the flip side, exposure to high levels of copper from environmental sources or overuse of supplements can increase levels. Other factors include certain medications, hormonal changes, and genetic conditions like Wilson's disease, which affects how your body processes copper. Overall health, stress, and inflammation can also impact how your body uses and stores copper.
If levels are high or close to high: Consider reducing your intake of copper-rich foods and check if you're taking any supplements that contain copper. It's also important to address any health issues that might cause your body to store too much copper, with the help of a healthcare professional. If levels are low or close to low: Increase your intake of copper-rich foods like shellfish, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes. Make sure your digestive health is good, so your body can absorb copper properly. In some cases, your doctor might recommend a copper supplement. Regular check-ups can help you monitor your levels and adjust as needed.
If levels are high or close to high: Consider reducing your intake of copper-rich foods and check if you're taking any supplements that contain copper. It's also important to address any health issues that might cause your body to store too much copper, with the help of a healthcare professional. If levels are low or close to low: Increase your intake of copper-rich foods like shellfish, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes. Make sure your digestive health is good, so your body can absorb copper properly. In some cases, your doctor might recommend a copper supplement. Regular check-ups can help you monitor your levels and adjust as needed.
