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January 30, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Valentines Day Lovers Delight: Chocolate is rich in dietary copper!
NEW YORK -- Its soothing, sinful, and sublime. Its enticing and
luscious on the tongue. Its hedonistic pleasures were once reserved
for Aztec kings, newlyweds and Spanish royalty.
But today, millions of people all around the world are impassioned
by the sweet lure of chocolate. Few, however, are aware that chocolate
is a rich source of dietary copper.
The bean from the cacao tree is naturally abundant in copper,
said Carl Keen, Professor of Nutrition and Internal Medicine at
the University of California at Davis. Fortunately, much of the
copper is retained when the bean is processed into cocoa or chocolate.
For various reasons, the copper content of dark chocolate is significantly
greater than milk chocolate. A 3-ounce bar of dark chocolate can
contain 0.75 milligrams of copper. This is more than 100% of the
US Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for children and over 80% of
the RDA for teens and adults. On the other hand, a 3-ounce bar of
milk chocolate can contain 0.18 milligrams of copper. This is equivalent
to 20% of the RDA for teens and adults.
In a study published in the academic journal Nutrition Research,
dark chocolate candy and other chocolate products were found to
be the highest contributors of daily copper intake in the American
diet. Americans who eat chocolate get an average of about 10% of
their copper from chocolate foods, said Nancy Betts, Ph.D., R.D.,
Professor of Nutritional Science and Dietetics at the University
of Nebraska at Lincoln, who was a co-author of the study. Another
study published in Journal of Nutrition revealed that some people
get over 50% of their daily copper from chocolate foods.
Copper is an essential mineral.
Copper is essential for the proper functioning of the body in many
ways. It facilitates cardiovascular and neurological health, builds
connective tissue and promotes bone development. It maintains sufficient
levels of red blood cells and its antioxidant properties protect
cells against free radical damage. Copper is also needed for enzymes
involved in energy metabolism.
Since copper is not manufactured in the body, it must be taken into
the body through the diet. Too little copper in the diet can lead
to disease.
Copper deficiency in children may result in retarded growth and
development, said Prof. Keen. In adults, a deficiency may result
in numerous metabolic problems, including anemia, heart and circulation
dysfunction, bone abnormalities, and complications to the nervous
system, immune system, lungs, thyroid, pancreas and kidneys.
Nutritional experts believe that mild copper deficiency is common
in humans, even in developed nations. However, according to the
study in Nutrition Research, consumption of chocolate is positively
correlated with total dietary intake of copper.
So, there seems to be little reason to feel guilty about consuming
that box of chocolates on Valentines Day! But if the extra fat
and calories are a major concern, you can get your recommended daily
allowance of copper from whole grains, nuts, raisins, shellfish,
liver and legumes.
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Contact: Michael Hennelly,
Tel: 212-251-7259,
E-mail: mhennelly@copper.org
260 Madison Avenue, 16th floor,
New York, NY 10016-2401.
Tel: (212) 251-7240
Fax: (212) 251-7245.
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