Evidence-based nutrition, in plain English — every entry sourced from clinical research.

Foods High in Copper

If you are trying to eat more Copper, ranked lists are useful because the best options are often not the most obvious ones. The foods below are ordered by Copper content in mg per 100 g, drawn from the foods in our database.

Remember: ranking by one nutrient is only one way to choose foods. Pairing matters too. Use the Copper compound page to understand absorption, forms and interactions.

Sesame Seeds — the top-ranked source

Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g · values per 100 g
Calories 573
Total Fat 49.7 g
Saturated Fat 6.96 g
Sodium 11 mg
Potassium 468 mg
Total Carbohydrate 23.4 g
Dietary Fiber 11.8 g
Total Sugars 0.3 g
Protein 17.7 g
Calcium, lignans, magnesium, copper
Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC 170150)

Top 15 Copper foods

  1. Sesame Seeds — 4.08 mg per 100g (453% DV). Calcium, lignans, magnesium
  2. Cashews — 2.22 mg per 100g (247% DV). Magnesium, copper, manganese
  3. Sunflower Seeds — 1.88 mg per 100g (209% DV). Vitamin E, magnesium, selenium
  4. Dark Chocolate (70–85%) — 1.77 mg per 100g (197% DV). Iron, magnesium, copper
  5. Chia Seeds — 1.57 mg per 100g (174% DV). Calcium, phosphorus, plant omega-3 (ALA)
  6. Hazelnuts — 1.41 mg per 100g (157% DV). Vitamin E, magnesium, manganese
  7. Flaxseed — 1.34 mg per 100g (149% DV). Thiamine, magnesium, lignans
  8. Turmeric — 1.30 mg per 100g (144% DV). Manganese, iron, curcumin
  9. Pumpkin Seeds — 1.23 mg per 100g (137% DV). Magnesium, zinc, iron
  10. Walnuts — 1.21 mg per 100g (134% DV). Copper, manganese, plant omega-3 (ALA)
  11. Black Beans — 1.12 mg per 100g (124% DV). Folate, magnesium, anthocyanins (values for cooked)
  12. Pistachios — 1.05 mg per 100g (117% DV). Vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium
  13. Almonds — 0.98 mg per 100g (109% DV). Vitamin E, magnesium, manganese
  14. Pecans — 0.91 mg per 100g (101% DV). Manganese, copper, zinc
  15. Lentils — 0.84 mg per 100g (93% DV). Folate, iron, manganese (values for cooked)

How to actually eat more Copper

A handful of additions usually move the needle more than a full diet reset. Copper is best consumed from whole foods rather than supplements whenever possible. Try adding one new source each week, track how you feel, and build from there rather than forcing every meal to hit a target.

For broader context, see our Immune Support hub and the Copper compound page.

Common questions

How much Copper do I need a day? Needs differ by age, sex, life stage and health status. The figures here are not prescriptions; use them to compare foods, then apply your own context.

Are supplements better than food sources? Not automatically. Food provides co-factors such as fibre, fat and other micronutrients that help the body use Copper effectively. Supplements are useful for filling confirmed gaps.

A note on health content. This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical or dietetic advice. Where we cite research, links to the original papers are provided so you can read the evidence yourself.

Keep reading