A bit of info I stumbled on re copper! - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

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A bit of info I stumbled on re copper!

BonnieT profile image
38 Replies

Posted on Facebook by Curejoy - this is one of 12 reasons to store your water in a copper vessel overnight for eight hours;

A thread that binds together many patients who suffer from thyroid diseases is that they have very less copper content in their bodies. Copper is an important mineral that regulates the functioning of thyroid gland. Though mostly observed in people with high thyroid hormone levels, copper deficiency could pose a threat to those with low thyroid hormone levels too. Regular consumption of water from copper vessels can make up for copper deficiency and keep a check on your thyroid levels.

I was also supposed to go to a seminar on thyroid but I came down with the flu. Sorry I don't have that information.

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BonnieT profile image
BonnieT
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38 Replies
helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

I don't really see how you manage your intake of copper by using that approach?

Nor would it be sensible to do so if the copper vessel contains an appreciable amount of arsenic - as some copper does.

Also, it is necessary to consider zinc whenever you look at copper. Maybe not necessary to make any changes, but it should not be ignored.

This link gives some information:

medlineplus.gov/ency/articl...

BonnieT profile image
BonnieT in reply tohelvella

I would definitely research anything I would take before trying it. I would also talk to my doctor for his medical opinion as well. I react to everything more than the average person so I need to be careful. I know that copper was once used in plumbing pipes and is no longer. I don't know if that's health related or due to expense.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toBonnieT

Copper is very much still used in plumbing. There are other options (mostly plastic), but a lot of household piping is still copper.

Brand new copper pipe has a lining - last lot I noticed was bright red. Not sure what that is. Solder for plumbing, though, no longers contains lead.

In hard water areas, the pipes very often get a layer of scale which reduces the rate at which copper can dissolve.

BonnieT profile image
BonnieT in reply tohelvella

Thanks for the info. They replaced some pipes in my house a few years back and they are plastic.

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply toBonnieT

It was lead that used to be used in plumbing pipes and that was very dangerous.

Lead was replaced by copper.

Copper is still used but nowadays plastic is used a lot as well.

BonnieT profile image
BonnieT in reply tohumanbean

They are still finding lead in our schools drinking fountains.

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply toBonnieT

That doesn't surprise me in the least. Even if water pipes in houses have been updated to use copper and/or plastic, I imagine there may be some lead in the pipes going from the water main to the house, or in the water main itself.

I know that houses get their plumbing updated every so often, and roads get dug up to deal with leaks. But how many people think about the pipework between the water main outside their property and the water inlet to the house?

I'd certainly never given it a thought before I typed this. :D

BonnieT profile image
BonnieT in reply tohumanbean

You are so right!

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tohumanbean

Quiet a few years ago, the water company replaced the big main near where I lived - lined the old cast iron or steel with yellow plastic. Amazing operation.

Later they found leaks, and had to replace the smaller main to the houses which they had originally avoided.

So, for particular reasons, very much aware!

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tohumanbean

Though even then, lead was not so dangerous in areas with generally hard water.

And, until relatively recently, solder used in so many plumbing joints was lead and tin.

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply tohelvella

I use to live in an area of Scotland with extremely soft water. When we moved there (from a hard water area) the kettle my parents had was holed within about a month.

And the house they had bought had lead piping. They replaced it very quickly inside the house, but not the bit outside the property between the house and the well in the garden. Doesn't bear thinking about....

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tohumanbean

Couldn't agree more.

Also, there must be untold numbers of lead/tin solder joints still in place, even in soft/acidic water areas (if they haven't yet failed).

It gets worse, some dezincification resistant brass, used where the water would otherwise leach the zinc and cause failure, is made by adding some arsenic...

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply tohelvella

Oh joy... Yummy arsenic.

I've never heard of dezincification before.

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply tohumanbean

Nor me... google says a form of corrosion and weakening of brass objects in which zinc is dissolved out of the brass alloy

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tohumanbean

Saves you having to get it from rice. :-(

greygoose profile image
greygoose

I read that hypos usually have high copper and low zinc. So, best to get both tested before doing anything.

BonnieT profile image
BonnieT in reply togreygoose

I am hypo. So definitely need to find out more before doing anything.

Sylvia22 profile image
Sylvia22

Interesting. You used to be able to buy copper supplements together with something else. Can't remember what .

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply toSylvia22

Combined copper and zinc supplements are easily sourced if anyone wants such a thing.

I've read that if zinc is high then copper is likely to be low. If copper is high then zinc is likely to be low.

I've also read that zinc deficiency is much more common than copper deficiency.

But in an ideal world I would want to know my levels of both before supplementing either.

serenfach profile image
serenfach

Cold water to a property should come from a rising main and not be stored. Only the hot water should be stored, and how many of us have been up to our lofts to check that the odd mouse cannot get in.....

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toserenfach

In days past, there were many different approaches to plumbing. Many houses still have stored water used for consumption. Sometimes bathroom taps are from stored water even if kitchen tap is from rising main.

There seem to have been distinct regional differences for whatever historical reasons.

More recently, cold water tanks are supposed to have mesh fitted so that even small creatures should not be able to get in.

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply tohelvella

Reminds me of the story I heard from someone I know. When they were young there was some issue with the plumbing. The plumber had to drain the cold water tank for some reason and he went to check it was completely empty. He came downstairs looking a bit green about the gills and told the householder that there was a dead pigeon in the cold water tank. They might not have been cooking with the water from the tank, but they'd definitely been cleaning their teeth and bathing with it. :O

BonnieT profile image
BonnieT in reply tohumanbean

Oh, yuk!

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise

I'm wondering if copper rings and bracelets do the same thing. There's a lot of copper jewellery about.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toEllie-Louise

I wouldn't rely on that. Your rate of absorption is likely to vary hugely depending on, for example, weather, soap, etc.

Also, you will tend to get a very high dose locally in/on the skin, which may not be a good idea.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toEllie-Louise

I had a copper ring, once. All it did was turned my finger green! :)

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply togreygoose

I've got one somewhere, I used to wear it when I was 16 and I painted the inside with clear nail varnish. It was a lovely ring with engravings on it, I wonder where it is? probably in my old jewellery box. :)

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toEllie-Louise

I've no idea where mine is, either. But I don't think I'd ever wear it again! lol It was just the fashion at the time.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

Just a note - many wine growing areas use, or used to use, Bordeaux Mixture. This is (more or less) copper sulphate and lime. So some wine may already be helping to keep your copper levels acceptable.

Cheers.

BonnieT profile image
BonnieT in reply tohelvella

I'll have to look into that. I like merlot only. And don't drink much anyway but an interesting idea to try. Thank you.

BonnieT profile image
BonnieT

I have always "felt" that my problems were related to either malabsorption or deficiencies in vitamins and/or minerals. The doctors say no as per test results. I feel they're missing something that should be obvious.

ozthyroid profile image
ozthyroid

I've been hypothyroid (Hashimotos autoimmune) for over 10 years & take 75 mcg levo daily. It seems to be working for me. For 9 years I was only on 50 mcg, now need a bit more. I didn't know there was a connection with hypos having high copper & low zinc. This makes sense to me because i had a hair analysis done a few years before my hypo diagnosis and it showed excess levels of copper.... I then lost my sense of smell & internet research suggested that one cause of this may be low zinc levels....well I had high copper, low zinc and then a Hashimoto's diagnosis.... I also had leaky gut, another precursor to autoimmune disease....It's all very interesting looking back, the parts of the health jigsaw start to make sense... if only I had known all this 10 years ago!!!

BonnieT profile image
BonnieT in reply toozthyroid

Seems like the docs should be able to put the pieces together.

ozthyroid profile image
ozthyroid

make sure that you get your copper levels tested first before you go supplementing because I had hair tissue samples tested in the 1990's and these showed excess copper levels in my system. My nutritional review doctor found lots of women living in Perth, Western Australia had the same excess copper levels..( is it the old copper pipes in our houses??)...he gave lectures on health issues caused by copper excess). I also had low zinc levels & massive stress & total exhaustion, then a few years later diagnosed with Hashimoto's autoimmune hypothyroidism... Oh, I also had a diagnosis of leaky gut before diagnosis....in hindsight it all makes sense.

ozthyroid profile image
ozthyroid

ooops, sorry for replying twice but I thought it hadn't worked the first time!!

BonnieT profile image
BonnieT in reply toozthyroid

No problem. By the way I'm in the USA. I think OCD in the UK do things a bit differently then we do here. It's good that we have this venue to share thoughts.

BonnieT profile image
BonnieT in reply toBonnieT

Oops. OCD should have been docs. I guess I was autocorrected.

punkyb profile image
punkyb

a good natural multi vitamin has safe levels of copper..

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