New York -There seems to be little reason to feel guilty about consuming that box of chocolates on Valentine's Day, new research showed.
In two studies, scientists said that chocolate was in fact a rich source of dietary copper.
"The bean from the cacao tree is naturally abundant in copper," said Carl Keen, a 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."
The copper content of dark chocolate is significantly greater than milk chocolate. An 85g bar of dark chocolate can contain 0,75mg of copper. This is more than 100 percent of the US recommended daily allowance (RDA) for children, and more than 80 percent of the RDA for teens and adults. An 85g bar of milk chocolate can contain 0,18mg of copper, equivalent to 20 percent of the RDA for teens and adults.
One study published in Nutrition Research, an academic journal, found chocolate products to be the highest contributors of copper in the US diet.
"Americans who eat chocolate get an average of about 10 percent of their copper from chocolate foods," said Nancy Betts, a professor of nutritional science and dietetics at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, who co-authored the study.
Another study in the Journal of Nutrition revealed that some people get more than half their daily copper from chocolate foods.
Copper is essential for the proper functioning of the body. 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 it is not manufactured in the body, it must be taken into the body through diet.
"Copper deficiency in children may result in retarded growth and development," said Keen.
"In adults, a deficiency may result in numerous metabolic problems, including anaemia, heart and circulation dysfunction, bone abnormalities, and complications to the nervous system, immune system, lungs, thyroid, pancreas and kidneys," the researcher said.