Wilson's disease is an inherited problem with copper in the body. The protein that should bind copper doesn't work properly. Levels of copper in your blood and urine are too high. The main treatment is taking a medicine to keep the copper from being absorbed. As a result, the levels of copper are kept lower. Usually patients who take the newest medicine for Wilson's disease do not need to follow a low copper diet. They do need to avoid liver and shellfish. You can find more information at Wilson's Disease Home Page or NCRR Reporter September/October 1997, Wilson's disease. A patient exchange is located at Wilson's Disease Patient Information Exchange.
If your physician recommends that you follow a low copper diet, follow these guidelines:
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Have your water analyzed to be sure that it does not have high levels of copper. If your water has more than 100 micrograms per liter you may need to use water that has the mineral removed. Ask your doctor, dietitian, or pharmacist for help in choosing the correct kind of water. Distilled water still has minerals in it. |
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Do not use copper pots, pans or other cooking utensils. |
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Read food labels and especially labels of any vitamin, mineral or herbal supplement. Some list the copper content. |
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Some people may also need to follow a diet that limits copper intake to 1 milligram a day. You should consult with your doctor before following this diet. |
| Choose these foods / beverages | Eat up to 6 choices each day | Do not eat these foods / beverages | |
| Fruits/juices | Most fruits except those listed here. Fruits that you dry at home are ok. | Mangos (1/2 cup) Papaya (1/4 whole) Pear (1) Pineapple (. 5 cup) |
Commercially dried fruits. Avocado. |
| Soups | Soups made from allowed foods. | Soups made with foods that you can choose 6 portions of. | Soups made with foods you should not eat. |
| Sweets and deserts | Fruit ices (without chunks of fruit), plain gelatin, hard candy, popsicle made from juices, custards, ice cream, puddings deserts made with allowed ingredients, carob flavored deserts. | Licorice 1 oz Syrups 1 oz |
Desserts made with other foods you should not eat, candy with nuts, chocolate or cocoa |
| Vegetables | Most vegetables | Bean sprouts (1 cup) Beets (1/2 cup) Spinach (1/2 cup cooked, 1 cup raw) Tomato juice and other tomato products (1/2 cup) Broccoli (1/2 cup) Asparagus (1/2 or ½ cup) Pumpkin (3/4 cup) Parsnips (2/3 cup) Winter and summer squash (1/2 cup) Green peas (1/2 cup) Potatoes of any kind (½ cup) |
Vegetable juice cocktail, mushrooms, potatoes with skin. |
| Milk and dairy products | Milk (whole, skim, 1% and 2%), cream, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt | Chocolate milk, soy milk, cocoa | |
| Bread, cereals and grain products | Breads, rolls, and pasta made with refined flour. Cereals with less than 1 mcg (.1 mg) copper per serving. Regular oatmeal |
Whole wheat bread (1 slice) Whole wheat crackers (6) Melba toast (4) Instant oatmeal (1/2 or ½ cup) Hot and cold cereals with .1 to .2 mg copper per serving (check labels) Dehydrated and canned soups (1 cup) Canned sweet potatoes |
Dried beans (lima, garbanzo, pinto, lentils, peas, red beans, black beans, soy beans) Millet Barley Wheat germ Bran breads and cereals with more than .2 mg per serving) Soy flour, soy grits Fresh Sweet Potatoes |
| Meat, Chicken, Fish, and meat substitutes (nuts, tofu, etc) | Beef Eggs White meat poultry Beef cold cuts and hot dogs |
Shellfish (3 oz) (oysters, scallops, shrimp, lobster clams, and crab Dark meat turkey and chicken (3 oz) Peanut butter (2 tbsp) |
Liver, kidney, brain, heart Lamb Pork Pheasant and quail Duck and goose Squid Salmon Meat gelatin Soy protein, tofu Nuts and seeds |
| Oils, butter, margarine | Butter, margarine, mayonnaise, non-dairy creamer, oils, salad dressings made from allowed foods. | Olives 2 medium | |
| Beverages | Coffee, tea (hot or cold), Kool-Aid, lemonade, soda, water | Postum (1 cup) Carbonated beverages (12 oz, 1 can) Ketchup 2 Tbsp |
Instant Breakfast beverages, mineral water, soy-based beverages, copper fortified formulas. |
| Miscellaneous | Brewer's Yeast Multiple vitamins, minerals or herbal supplements with copper or minerals. |
This menu contains 1880 calories, and 1.09 mg copper.
| Breakfast | 1 egg; 2 slices white toast with 1 tsp butter; 4 oz orange juice; 6 oz coffee; 8 oz Skim milk |
| Lunch | Turkey sandwich on white bread with lettuce and mustard (2 oz turkey); Large apple with peel; Baby carrots (6); Skim Milk |
| Snack | Low fat lemon yogurt |
| Dinner | Spaghetti and meatballs (1/2 cup sauce, 1 1/2 cup refined pasta and 2, 1 oz meatballs); Italian bread with butter (1 slice); Corn (steamed .5 cup); Tossed Salad; Peach halves (2); Coffee 6oz; 2 sugar cookies |
Credits for this dietary information go to Maureen Murtaugh, PhD.
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