impairment.Cobalt (Co)
Food sources: All green leafy vegetables. Also, various fruits, vegetables
and herbs.
Toxic sources: Cobalt is used as an antifoaming agent in the processing
of some beer. Consumption of large amounts of this beer could
cause polycythemia and heart disorders.
Uses in the body: Aids in normal growth and appetite, pancreas. The
only known function of cobalt is as a constituent of vitamin B12. In
this capacity, cobalt aids in the formation of normal red blood cells,
maintenance of nerve tissue, and normal formation of cells.
Deficiency: A deficiency of cobalt is equivalent to a deficiency of
vitamin B12, and can cause anemia, nerve disorders, and
abnormalities in cell formation. Also, “scaly” skin and atrophy.
Toxicity: Rare. Large doses of inorganic cobalt (not combined with
vitamin B12) might stimulate thyroid and bone marrow function,
resulting in excess production of red blood cells (polycythemia).Copper (Cu)
Acid/Alkaline: Alkaline-forming
Food sources: Dark green leafy vegetables, raisins, radishes, nuts
(especially almonds) oranges, blackstrap molasses, avocados, and
broccoli.
Toxic sources: Copper water pipes and cooking utensils.
Note: Long-term uses of oral contraceptives can upset the balance of
copper in the body causing excessively high cholesterol levels.
Uses in the body: Liver, gallbladder, blood, lungs, heart. Absorption and
metabolism of iron. Oxidation of fatty acids, of tyrosine to melanin
pigments. Metabolism of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). A catalyst used
in the manufacture of hemoglobin. Essential to catecholamine
synthesis. Copper is a component of the antioxidant enzyme:
Superoxide dismutase, and might protect cell membranes from
potential damage by highly reactive oxygen fragments. In this
antioxidant role, copper might function to prevent the development