Copper is an essential mineral that plays a key role in many physiological and metabolic processes. Also, copper has potent wide spectrum biocidal properties. Copper's positive effects help maintain a healthy body. Copper has been used for health and wellness for thousands of years. Today it is exploited in consumer and medical devices because of its powerful properties.
What are the Health Benefits of Copper?
Anti-Aging
In the skin, copper is involved in the formation and stabilization of extracellular matrix skin proteins, such as elastin, collagen, and TGF‐β1. These proteins are the major structural components of our bodies. They repair the body’s tissues, bones, muscles, hair, provide skin elasticity, strength, extensibility, and skin aging prevention.
Antioxidant
It is necessary to maintain a healthy balance between free radical generation and antioxidant defense in the body system. If the body’s ability to regulate it goes down, it causes oxidative stress. Free radicals damage lipids, proteins, and DNA and trigger several human diseases. The additional source of antioxidative activity is copper. Copper is an essential effective, nontoxic nutrient that neutralizes free radicals. The copper also helps the body to maintain nerve cells and the immune system. Antioxidant properties together with the ability of copper to stimulate collagen and elastin prevent skin aging.
Antibacterial
Copper is a known antiviral and antibacterial element. EPA registered copper as a public-health antimicrobial product. When a microorganism comes into contact with copper, the copper destroys the membranes of bacterial cells through the process of oxidation. It can destroy the DNA and RNA of germs and prevent mutations. That makes it more difficult for viruses & bacteria to become resistant to its powerful effect.
Healing
Copper has a wide spectrum of healing properties. Copper prevents the growth of bacteria and helps avoid inflammation of healthy tissue near the wound. Copper ions increase the production of vital proteins results in the acceleration of wound healing. The wound is rebuilt with new tissue made up of collagen and extracellular matrix proteins. A lack of prolonged or excessive inflammation and a quick repair process allows preventing chronic wound formation.
Anti-Inflammatory and Pain Treatment
Copper is used in the treatment of pain and inflammation. It provides relief from aches and pains caused by arthritis, injury of joints, and osteoarthritis. Copper can help improve blood circulation. Better blood circulation can decrease pain.
Prevent Bone Loss
Copper plays an important role in forming bone mass and strength. A high risk of osteoporosis is associated with low bone mineral density caused by copper deficiency. The risk of such diseases may be reduced by taking action to avoid copper deficiency and slow down bone loss.
Increases Blood Flow
Copper is an essential nutrient for many functions. Copper is a strong helper for iron absorption. Together with iron, it enables the body to form red blood cells, maintaining the nervous and the immune system. Copper helps to regulate blood flow, heart rate, and blood pressure and provides better circulation by maintaining iron levels in the blood. A deficiency of copper in the body can lead to poor circulation and problems, such as anemia, heart attacks, and strokes.
Lowers Cholesterol
One more beneficial property to decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes is reducing cholesterol. Copper is associated with reduced LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) and balanced HDL (the good kind).
Increases Brain Power
Problems with memory and learning can be caused by copper deficiency. Copper plays an important role in brain function, it makes the brain work faster and remember more.
HOW TO UTILIZE THE BENEFITS OF COPPER IN DAILY LIFE
You can get all the copper your body needs simply from the copper-rich diets, but you can get more benefits utilizing the consumer products infused with copper. Here are some copper-based products for cosmetic, healthcare, homecare applications:
Skin Revitalizing Pillowcase
The Skin Rejuvenating Pillowcase from Eculage is an overnight solution to maintain youthful-looking skin. The fabric in this pillowcase is infused with copper ions by unique patented Cupron Copper-Oxide technology. As demonstrated in clinical trials, sleeping for four weeks on pillowcases with microscopic copper particles reduces the depth of facial wrinkles and skin sagging and enhances skin wellbeing. The pillowcase decreases the appearance of aging (fine lines, crow’s feet, spots, wrinkles), due to the ability of copper to stimulate the formation of extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen, fibronectin, and integrin, which support skin renewal. The Cupron Copper-Oxide technology transforms the pillowcase into bacteria-free; hence, it reduces acne and keeps new ones from forming in the future.
Socks for Diabetics and Sensitive Feet
Copper implemented in the socks is capable to kill 99.9% of bacteria and fungi that cause foot infection. The Eculage Diabetic Socks provides powerful anti-odor features and improves the foot skin appearance. In addition to copper’s biocide properties, it helps speed up the healing process. Copper ions stimulate the expression of collagen, elastin, integrins, and angiogenesis which leads to acceleration of tissue growth and wound repair.
Advanced Wound Dressings
Leveraging copper’s potent antibacterial properties, copper dressings provide a unique proposition to address acute, critical, and chronic wounds. The copper-based dressings are suitable for a wide variety of wounds: diabetic wounds, leg and foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, first and second-degree burns, surgical wounds. The dressings provide strong protection against a broad spectrum of wound pathogens and reduce the risk of chronic wound formation.
Antiviral Medical Facemask
The revolutionary material of the mask kills bacteria, fungi, and viruses every day. The copper oxide particles are potent for life and their ability to repel viruses do not decline over time. The ability to eliminates viruses by 99.9% within 1 minute of contact was proven by the US Federal Health and Human Services department (HHS). The Antiviral Copper-Oxide Medical mask with high splash protection and bacterial filtration, efficiency reduces the risk of viral cross-contamination.
Microbifix Antibacterial Wipes and Dish Drying Mats
The products are based on a unique patented, antibacterial, self-cleaning technology, infused with copper fibers that reduce bacteria growth and prevent odor, caused by bacterial buildup. Wiping with a common wipe is not always effective for removing the contaminants. So, it is important to continually disinfect surfaces to remove and kill microorganisms, including pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses, from high-touch surfaces. Antibacterial Wipes protect from the 99.9% harmful bacteria found on surfaces. The wipes are reusable, washable, and absorbs and holds over 10 times their weight in liquid.
