I have been reading heaps more about toxicity in the body and how this interferes with our health and came across some very interesting information about zinc. I had read in many websites and books that women with endometriosis should be supplementing with zinc but I never understood why and as you know I am a curious person and need to get to the bottom of this one.

What I discovered is that zinc and copper are antagonists to each other. In other words, these two metals need to balance each other out. (Dittman 2012)

Typically, women with endometriosis tend to have too much copper and this displays itself in a few ways:

• Overthinking, yet struggle to focus
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Feeling highly creative and yet not grounded
• Sugar cravings
• Loss of appetite
• Easy scarring
• PMS and hormone imbalances
• Frequent fungal yeast infections
• Skin outbreaks

Sources of getting too much copper

• Copper IUDs
• Estrogenic birth contraceptive pills
• Copper piping
• Copper-mercury fillings
• Plasticizers
• Cosmetics
• Chronic viral infections

That Contraceptive Pill again…

What is scary is that being on the contraceptive pill is one very likely cause to having zinc deficiency or too much copper. Typically it can take around 3 years to restore zinc levels after being on the pill. The estrogen-only ones are the worst. (Weaver 2013)

You need zinc for pregnancy!

Zinc is involved in over 200 enzyme systems in the body and it is crucial for healthy brain development and a competent immune system in a growing fetus. This is why it is dangerous to come off the pill and not replenish zinc levels before getting pregnant. There is also a possible correlation with autistic children and too high copper levels in their moms.

Could this be why you aren’t ovulating?

Low zinc levels could also influence ovulation and heaviness of periods by creating a state of high prolactin. High prolactin levels interfere with the normal production of other hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. This can change or stop ovulation. It can also lead to irregular or missed periods.

What can we do?

1.Eat foods high in zinc. The top one is oysters (unfortunately, I don’t like those!) but you can also increase pumpkin seeds, nuts, cocoa nibs and animal livers. Let’s not forget the seaweed! More ideas? check out this website…

2. Supplement with zinc. I recommend a liquid zinc to allow yourself to measure if you are getting enough. The easy way to test this is to see how quickly you can taste the minerally taste. If it is instant, then you are very low and if it takes more than 20 seconds then you are okay.

3. You can make a suppository with coconut oil and put a few drops of zinc on it. This will not only fight off candida but also support your immune system from the inside out.

Get the mercury out!

Mercury binds to glutathione in the liver and this prevents it binding to copper instead. This means, more copper as a free metal ion. This inhibits the gallbladder and creates free radical damage (inflammation) within our bodies. (Dr. Dittman 2013)

*Key message: Get that mercury out of your body safely!

Mh, R. D. O. (2012). Brighton Baby a Revolutionary Organic Approach to Having an Extraordinary Child. Balboa Press.

Murray, M. T., & PIZZORNO, J. (2012). The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine Third Edition. Simon and Schuster.

Weaver, D. L. (2013). Dr Libby’s Beauty From The Inside out. Little Green Frog Publishing Limited.

Have you noticed that you are an overthinker? Thought it was your personality? Are you an extreme creative? Perhaps it is just too much copper and not enough zinc? Would be interesting to compare notes and see if we are similar in this way… Share your comments below.