You’re probably familiar with these popular ways to rev up your metabolism: engage in intense cardio, drink lots of water, and eat more protein. But here’s one you may not have heard: eat more copper!

A research team at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and UC Berkeley has discovered that copper plays a big role in metabolizing fat.

“We find that copper is essential for breaking down fat cells so that they can be used for energy,” says Chris Chang, a faculty scientist at Berkeley Lab’s Chemical Sciences Division who led the study. “It acts as a regulator. The more copper there is, the more the fat is broken down. We think it would be worthwhile to study whether a deficiency in this nutrient could be linked to obesity and obesity-related diseases.”

But don’t worry—you won’t have to chew on copper wire or pennies to get your fat-burning fix!

5 Copper-Rich Foods to Add to Your Diet

Oysters

Eastern oysters win the award for food with the highest natural concentration of zinc and copper, according to the USDA National Nutrient Database. These oysters have 4,851 micrograms of copper in every 3 cooked ounces. Pacific oysters have less zinc and copper but are still worth eating for the copper intake.

Millet

We’ve previously written about millet as a healthy, affordable superfood. This grain is notably rich in copper, magnesium and phosphorous. However, some studies indicate that millet could have an adverse effect on thyroid function, so consume in moderation if you’re concerned.

Kale

Eat your greens for a powerful dose of copper! Not only does kale contain vitamins K and C, but it also has .2 mg of copper per cup, which more than fulfills your daily intake. Check out these recipes and tips in celebration of National Kale Day (yes, that’s a thing), which is always on the first Wednesday of October.

Asparagus

Like kale, this veggie packs a punch of vitamin K, along with 33% DV of copper. As if that weren’t enough, it also provides ample calcium and magnesium. 

Dark Chocolate

Luckily, there’s an indulgent dessert food also filled with copper. According to SF Gate, each ounce of 70 percent dark chocolate contains 25% of your daily copper value. "When it comes to chocolate’s nutritional value, darker is better." Kathleen M. Zelman, RD, LD, MPH says, "Per 100-gram bar, 70%-85% dark chocolate contains 1,766 micrograms of copper and 60-69% dark chocolate has 1,248 micrograms. While it has considerably less, milk chocolate still has 491 micrograms for the same serving."
So go ahead—treat yourself to a little dessert tonight!