copper-related stories
Can metal jewelry really ease arthritis?
Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products, Alternative & Green Health
My great grandmother swore by them. Gleaming copper bangles adorned with turquoise or curvy designs etched into the metal often clattered on her wrist, reaching up toward her elbow. They decorated her wrinkled and freckled skin and distracted somewhat from her enlarged knuckles.
But she wasn't wearing them to complement her eclectic style. She suffered from arthritis in her hands and believed the metal jewelry eased the pain. I don't know that she ever opted for any other form of alternative therapies for pain management or popped pills for it. My Grandma Hall, as everyone referred to her, never was big on consuming much besides coffee and leftover chicken pilfered from a buffet restaurant and carried home in her Ziploc-lined purse.
Whether they really worked or generated a powerful placebo effect remains debatable. One might be better off improving nutrition and keeping up with an exercise regimen. Beyond that, there's a more modern version of the copper bangle for those whose style might be a bit more edgy. Or gender neutral.
But she wasn't wearing them to complement her eclectic style. She suffered from arthritis in her hands and believed the metal jewelry eased the pain. I don't know that she ever opted for any other form of alternative therapies for pain management or popped pills for it. My Grandma Hall, as everyone referred to her, never was big on consuming much besides coffee and leftover chicken pilfered from a buffet restaurant and carried home in her Ziploc-lined purse.
Whether they really worked or generated a powerful placebo effect remains debatable. One might be better off improving nutrition and keeping up with an exercise regimen. Beyond that, there's a more modern version of the copper bangle for those whose style might be a bit more edgy. Or gender neutral.
Copper deficiency linked to increased stress levels
Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
Feeling a little stressed lately? If I were to give you a penny, would that make it all better? You're probably thinking that I'm crazy to even suggest that your stress can be reduced for a mere penny, but I beg to differ. It turns out that copper may counteract the negative effects of stress, something that I'm sure your heart would appreciate over time.
A recent study, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, revealed that copper deficiency can increase a person's risk of ischemic heart disease. Moreover, in a test on lab mice, researchers discovered that administering a daily dose of copper to mice with stress-induced heart disease caused their hearts to pump normally again. Evidently, dietary copper offsets stress by promoting the growth of new blood vessels and keeping an over-taxed heart from enlarging.
Now if gas could only cost a penny per gallon -- that would be a sure-fire way to reduce some stress in people!!
Copper replacing stainless steel in some hospitals
Stainless steel may be going out of favor in some hospitals in favor of the more trendier copper. It's not for aesthetics's sake, though.Copper is being used in some intensive-care units in New York and South Carolina to determine if drug-resistant bacteria is more apt to survive and grown on steel or copper.
Would it amaze you to hear that almost 1.7 million Americans develop infections while in the hospital on an annual basis -- and 100,000 of them die as a result of these infections? How are all these bacteria surviving inside the hospital? from what I've seen, the hygiene is better in some restaurants than in a hospital, which is not good. In addition to more bacteria-resistant surfaces, hospitals need to be as sterile as feasible, yes?
Postpartum depression and copper: the missing link?
Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
Many women suffer from the baby blues after giving birth, not to mention the sleep deprivation blues and the will I ever be alone with my husband again blues, as well as the the baby is out so why do I still look five months pregnant blues. But in all seriousness, many also suffer from the very real and often debilitating disorder that is postpartum depression.
Hopeful researchers this week announced, however, that they may have found the missing link in treating the condition. Early research suggests that women who suffer from postpartum depression have higher levels of copper circulating in their bloodstream than women who are not depressed or who have non-pregnancy related depression. During pregnancy, copper levels double and in most women regulate after birth. The theory is that a genetic flaw prevents the regulation of copper in some women. Because the metal can wreak havoc with mood-regulating chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine, researchers theorize that this excess of copper might be the problem.
More definitive research is needed, but one researcher in the study has had success treating patients with supplements that bring their copper levels back to normal. This is hopeful news, for sure.
Hopeful researchers this week announced, however, that they may have found the missing link in treating the condition. Early research suggests that women who suffer from postpartum depression have higher levels of copper circulating in their bloodstream than women who are not depressed or who have non-pregnancy related depression. During pregnancy, copper levels double and in most women regulate after birth. The theory is that a genetic flaw prevents the regulation of copper in some women. Because the metal can wreak havoc with mood-regulating chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine, researchers theorize that this excess of copper might be the problem.
More definitive research is needed, but one researcher in the study has had success treating patients with supplements that bring their copper levels back to normal. This is hopeful news, for sure.
