Chocolate is good for you? Bring it on!
One of the world's greatest sweets may soon weigh down supermarket
shelves following news that dark chocolate may help keep hearts purring
with perfection. Researchers in Italy have found that eating half a bar
each week can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Their findings
were recently published in the Journal of Nutrition.
The epidemiological study, one of the biggest in Europe, found that 6.7
grams of chocolate each day have the potential to keep inflammation at
bay and prevent heart disease.
The Moli-Sani project researchers paid particular attention to the
complex mechanism of inflammation. Most experts agree that chronic
inflammation wreaks havoc on the human body, and the heart in
particular. Pain, swelling and irritation could trigger a number of
disorders including stroke and myocardial infarction.
According to the researchers, prevention programmes have been devised
to keep the inflammation process under control, and C reactive protein
(CRP) has been identified as one of the most promising markers. CRP is
used by scientists not only as a marker for inflammation, but it can
also be used in determining the progress of disease or the
effectiveness of treatments. Scientists can detect CRP via a simple
blood test, they added.
For this project, the team related the protein levels in the blood of
the study participants with their typical chocolate intake. Out of a
random sample size of 11,000 people, 4,849 were healthy and
disease-risk free. Their blood pressure and cholesterol levels, among
other criteria, were normal. Also, 1,317 people were not regular
chocolate eaters, while 824 consumed only dark chocolate
regularly.
'We started from the hypothesis that high amounts of antioxidants
contained in the cocoa seeds, in particular flavonoids and other kinds
of polyphenols, might have beneficial effects on the inflammatory
state,' explained Dr Romina di Giuseppe, lead author of the study. 'Our
results have been absolutely encouraging; people having moderate
amounts of dark chocolate regularly have significantly lower levels of
C-reactive protein in their blood,' she said. 'In other words, their
inflammatory state is considerably reduced.'
While some people may think the 17% average drop in inflammation is not
significant, 'it is enough to decrease the risk of cardiovascular
disease for one third in women and one fourth in men', she added. 'It
is undoubtedly a remarkable outcome.'
This doesn't mean that people should go out and buy hoards of
chocolate. 'We are talking of a moderate consumption,' the researcher
said. Best effects are brought on when people consume an average amount
of 6.7 grams of chocolate each day. 'This corresponds to a small square
of chocolate twice or three times a week.' Consumption topping this
level would erase the beneficial effects of chocolate, she
remarked.
Chocolate bars typically weigh in at 100 grams; the researchers believe
that half of this each week is good for you.
According to Dr di Giuseppe, the study focused on dark chocolate
because previous studies found that milk chocolate interferes in the
absorption of polyphenols.
The researchers pointed out that other factors might also be involved
because people who generally adore chocolate also consume other healthy
foods, including fruits and vegetables. 'In order to avoid this, we
adjusted for all possible confounding parameters. But the beneficial
effect of chocolate still remained and we do believe it is real,' the
lead author said.
Project coordinator Professor Licia Iacoviello of Sacred Heart Catholic
University in Italy said that this study is the first scientific
outcome published from the Moli-Sani project. Professor Iacoviello said
that this latest finding is just the 'beginning of a large series of
data that will give us an innovative view' on how to prevent
cardiovascular disease and tumours.
Source: Community R&D Information Service (CORDIS)
Chocolate is gooooood for you...
Brings back fond memories of good old days of swinging London in the 60s and 70s and the wonderful taste of Cadbury's chocolates of various flavours and Rowntreee's Kitkat bars from York.
All that has changed of course. Since aquired by the german firm of Nestle, those wonderful tastes have changed for the mediocre tastes of german candy makers, often too sickly sweet and with no characters.
Just like the Mini and the Rolls Royce.
They have now become driving machines under BMW ownership but they totally lack poise, class and dignity.
Mini is no longer the "loveable" little fun car for all ages and life styles and the $500,000 Rolls Royce has an interior like a mass production Chrysler car of no heritage with an exterior design that of an Oldsmobile of 70s that GM experimented with and abondoned in a hurry as it soon became apparent that that design was a flop.
As such you may find a bunch of Rap singers with fat bank accounts and acquired tastes of baboons with grade 12 education lining up to buy them, the traditional RR buyers have moved on to more tasteful products.
Such a great shame.
Germans should keep their hands off of British ikons.
I for one, would like to see these companies returned to British ownership and start producing products with taste and character again.
"Nuts, whole hazel nuts....."
Real chocolate anyone?