Copper Toxicity and Hormonal Health: The Hidden Epidemic Affecting Women
Copper is an essential mineral needed for energy production, brain function, and immune support. However, when copper becomes bio-unavailable—meaning the body cannot properly utilise or eliminate it—it starts to accumulate in tissues, leading to a condition known as copper toxicity. This buildup can wreak havoc on hormonal balance, particularly in women, due to copper’s close relationship with estrogen.
In this post, I’ll break down why copper is important, what happens when it becomes bio-unavailable, and how excess copper can affect your hormonal and reproductive health. Plus, I’ll introduce my Beta HTMA Package (£135) to help you identify and correct copper imbalances through personalised nutrition, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations.
Why Copper is Essential for the Body
Copper plays a vital role in:
✔️ Energy production
✔️ Immune function
✔️ Iron metabolism (helps prevent anaemia)
✔️ Nervous system health
✔️ Collagen formation (healthy skin, hair, and nails)
Copper must be properly bound to a transport protein called ceruloplasmin to be bioavailable. When this process is disrupted, free, unbound copper accumulates, leading to toxicity.
The Dangers of Bio-Unavailable Copper
When copper builds up in tissues instead of being properly used or detoxified, it can cause a wide range of symptoms, many of which mimic other hormonal or mental health disorders.
Symptoms of Copper Toxicity:
- Hormonal Imbalances: Estrogen dominance, irregular cycles, PMS, endometriosis, fibroids
- Mental Health Issues: Anxiety, depression, racing thoughts, panic attacks
- Fatigue & Adrenal Dysfunction: Chronic fatigue, burnout, sluggish thyroid
- Skin & Hair Problems: Acne, eczema, hair loss
- Digestive Issues: Bloating, nausea, slow detoxification
- Emotional Instability: Mood swings, irritability, sensitivity to stress
Many women struggle with chronic fatigue, brain fog, and anxiety without realising that excess copper could be the root cause.
Why Women Are More Prone to Copper Toxicity
Women naturally have higher levels of estrogen, which enhances copper retention. This is why copper toxicity or an accumulation of too much bio-unavailable copper is far more common in women than men.
Major Sources of Excess Copper:
⚠️ Birth Control Pills – Synthetic estrogen increases copper retention
⚠️ Copper IUDs – Directly release copper into the body
⚠️ Tap Water – Copper pipes leach copper into drinking water
⚠️ Vegetarian/Vegan Diets – Often low in zinc, which helps balance copper
⚠️ Chronic Stress – Weakens adrenal glands, reducing copper detoxification
⚠️ Xenoestrogens – Environmental estrogens from plastics, pesticides, and skincare products
Since estrogen increases copper levels, women using hormonal birth control or copper IUDs are at a higher risk of developing copper toxicity.
The Copper-Estrogen Connection
Copper and estrogen work together in the body, meaning that:
🔹 High estrogen levels lead to higher copper retention
🔹 High copper levels stimulate estrogen production, creating a vicious cycle
🔹 Copper disrupts adrenal and thyroid function, worsening hormonal imbalances
This is why many women with copper toxicity also struggle with estrogen dominance, experiencing symptoms like heavy periods, painful PMS, breast tenderness, and bloating.
How to Test for Copper Imbalance
Traditional blood tests often fail to detect copper toxicity because they only measure copper in circulation, not the deep tissue storage where it accumulates.
The most effective way to test for copper toxicity is through Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA). HTMA reveals:
✅ Copper levels in tissues (not just blood)
✅ Zinc-to-copper ratio (key for hormone balance)
✅ Adrenal & thyroid function (which regulate copper metabolism)
✅ Heavy metal toxicity (which can worsen copper imbalance)
The Beta HTMA Package (£135) – Take Control of Your Hormonal Health
To help you identify and correct copper imbalances, I offer a comprehensive HTMA package, which includes:
🔬 HTMA Test Kit – Easy, at-home hair collection
📊 Full Copper & Mineral Analysis – Understand your unique mineral profile
🎥 Personalised Video Report – A detailed breakdown of your results and my recommendations
📆 12-Week Nutrition, Lifestyle & Supplement Plan – Customised recommendations to restore balance
💬 Ongoing Support Options – Additional consultations available if needed
This one-time investment of £135 provides you with lifelong insights into your body’s mineral balance and hormonal health.
How to Lower Bio-Unavailable Copper
If you suspect copper toxicity, correcting the imbalance naturally is key. Here’s how:
🥑 Increase Zinc Intake – Zinc competes with copper; found in red meat, oysters, pumpkin seeds
🥗 Support Liver Detox – Eat cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower), lemon water, and beets
💧 Filter Your Water and add Mineral Drops – Avoid copper-contaminated tap water
🚫 Reduce Xenoestrogens – Switch to natural skincare & avoid plastic food containers
🌿 Consider a Copper Detox Protocol – Personalised supplementation based on HTMA results
Is Copper Toxicity Affecting You? Get Tested Today!
If you’re experiencing symptoms like hormonal imbalances, anxiety, fatigue, or PMS, an accumulation of excess copper could be the root cause.
Take the first step towards better health with my Beta HTMA Package (£135).
Click on the button below to apply to work with me today! It's a simple form so I get to know how I can help you.
By understanding your body’s unique mineral profile, you can finally regain energy, balance your hormones, and feel your best.
Why this Matters for the Future Generation
Excess copper can and will get passed down to any children you have. As copper is an excitotoxin for the brain, this can cause symptoms of hyperactivity, ADD and ADHD. This along with declining gut health due to all the processed food and sugar children are eating could be the reason why there is a rise of these types of issues.
If children start off life with an already high level of copper, then this will only rise throughout their life and cause issues further on down the line.
Children can easily have a HTMA test to see what their minerals are doing and how they can be helped to come back into balance.
So if you have children, why not get theirs done also?
References & Further Reading:
📚 Copper Toxicity Resources
📚 The Root Cause Protocol