It
is highly important during pregnancy, especially in the
third quarter, because this is when many of the small
organs, systems and functions of the body are developed.
It is essential for the mother to intake an adequate amount
of copper in order to fulfill her body’s demands and those
of her baby during and after pregnancy. Between 3 and
4 mg of copper should be consumed each day by means of
a healthy and balanced diet.
The fetus stores almost ten times more copper per mass
unit than adults, and when it is born, it consumes a large
part of its reserves because mother’s milk or its substitutes
have low copper content.
IMPORTANT
BENEFITS FOR UNWEANED CHILDREN
Recently
born babies obtain copper from their own body reserves
which they have stored during pregnancy; the baby will
use this reserve until he is fed other food than milk.
The body does not produce copper so he will have to obtain
it from food. A normal and healthy diet is what guarantees
consumption of an adequate amount of copper and other
essential elements.
PRE-SCHOOL
AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN ALSO NEED COPPER
Children
regulate the copper they absorb naturally in their diet.
Copper is found in foods rich in minerals such as vegetables,
legumes, cereals, nuts, fruit and even chocolate, as also
in meat and fish. Depending on their weight and age, children
must consume daily between 0.5 and 1 mg of copper. A lower
consumption of this micronutrient severely affects growth
and it is, therefore, very important to eat a balanced
diet, not only for the correct operation of all the organs
but also for the production of energy, for which it is
essential.
CONSUMPTION
OF COOPER IS NOT ONLY FOR CHILDREN
Copper
is the best protection of an adult’s health. An adult
body has a copper concentration of between 1.4 and 2 mg
per kilogram of body weight. To maintain this concentration
after covering losses or the demand for growth, a copper
consumption between 2 to 4 mg per day is required, which
must be supplied by the food (and in a lower amount by
the water) we consume.
People
and all living beings have an automatic mechanism (homeostasis)
that regulates the amount of copper and other essential
metals, such as zinc, iron, boron, and selenium that enter
into our body.