What are good dietary sources of copper?
Copper and other essential trace minerals cannot be formed by the human body. These minerals must be ingested in the diet. The best dietary sources of copper include seafood (especially shellfish), organ meats (such as liver), whole grains, nuts, raisins, legumes (beans and lentils), and chocolate. Other food sources that contain copper include cereals, potatoes, peas, red meat, mushrooms, some dark green leafy vegetables (such as kale), and some fruits (such as coconuts, papaya, and apples). Tea, rice, and chicken are relatively low in copper but provide a reasonable amount of copper to the body because they are consumed in significant amounts. Although the primary food sources for dietary copper vary regionally, geographically, and culturally, a balanced diet appears to provide an adequate intake of copper for most people. In both developed and developing countries, adults, young children, and adolescents who consume diets of grain, millet, tuber, or rice along with legumes (beans) o
