Recently after reading a Lancet editorial that more or less bursts the chocolate bubble stating dark chocolate’s fat and sugar content may counteract the benefits provided by flavanols. (chocolate bars ARE fatty and bad for you…shocking!) It also points out the fact that many manufacturers process their chocolate in such a way that strip chocolate of its health boosting contents. This is after a number of recent studies that have shown cardiovascular benefits with the ingestion of chocolate, most notably a report in Circulation. According to the study methods, the chocolate consumed by the patients was prepared by Nestle and wrapped (bar form perhaps?). So my question is which of all the bizillion Nestle chocolate products was used? Or was it specifically made for the study? However, a more recent article from Japan does identify the high flavenol product they chose, Meiji Black Chocolate 45 g, Meiji Seika kaisya Ltd, including cacao polyphenol 550 mg/day, 200 kcal. So you can try and track down this Japanese treat and feel reassured that there maybe some benefit to eating it.
All this new research begs the question, should we really be touting the health benefits of chocolate? During my research on this topic I stumbled upon the aptly named Chocolate Happiness Undergoing More Pleasantness (CHUMP) study. This spoof study that amuses the PubMed searching geek in me points out that the reported benefits of chocolate could also simply be related to the happiness factor of receiving something we crave. Interesting…
But still the question remains, when I watch chefs on tv run their fingers through ganache should I believe the hype that dark rich dreamy creamy chocolate is good for me? I doubt it, but it does give me an excuse to eat more of it, which is good and bad. While I don’t think its the cure to heart disease or obesity for that matter, chocolate does make people happy. But like most things that are oh so very tasty, you can’t beat the math when it comes to calories. So if you are looking for something to improve your health stick with the more exercise less chocolate routine. But if you are like me and are going to eat chocolate anyway, eat dark chocolate so that you can pretend its healthful and in very least less fatty than a milk chocolate bar. Need a little help? Here is a confidence boosting NPR story. It highlights one of the two manufacturers that specifically process their chocolate to keep flavanols high, Dove Dark and CocoaVia. As for the rest the brands, it is anyone’s guess. According to Roger Corder of London’s William Harvey Research Institute, it will take about 6-12 months for information on each brand to come out. For now, I’m going to happily keep noshing on dark chocolate because I can, but with little hope that it will augment my next spinning class.
Filed under: Chocolate, Dessert, health | Tagged: Chocolate, Circulation, dark chocolate, diet, flavanols, food, health, research, the Lancet
You can’t beat a good old-fashioned cup of cocoa! No sugar. No milk. It tastes a bit powdery. But a glug of soya milk smooths it.
As to researchers concluding that chocolate is once again bad for you, it could be they are paid to reach that conclusion. Anything natural that prevents cardiovascular problems, especially when it’s as popular as chocolate, can put a dent in pharmaceutical companies’ profits. Yes, I’m cynical. It pays to be that way where Big Pharma is concerned.
A research project a couple of years ago fed mice an extract of apples. This proved to be beneficial. The conclusion drawn by the researchers was that ‘eating whole apples is good for… (whatever purpose the research was all about).’
But the mice hadn’t been fed whole apples. They were fed an extract. So the true conclusion should have been that feeding mice an apple extract is good for mice.
But the research was sponsored by an apple growers’ cooperative. So the conclusion was tilted towards what the sponsors wanted to hear. It happens! Money changes hands!
I did forget to mention that pure natural cocoa powder is probably the best source of flavanols. Thanks for the tasty advice!
I have little doubt that the chocolate companies put a little mad money in the researchers pockets to get the work moving along. However, I can definitely see pharmaceutical companies not wanting chocolate to steal the show. People are much more inclined these days to swallow potential natural sources of medicine than prescription drugs.
I was disappointed that the researchers did not mention the specific source of chocolate they chose. I bet there is an advantage of keeping it a little ambiguous for the Nestle corporation. Funding for research from the government or various health associations, less biased resources, has become very precarious with this economy. So I would definitely take things with a grain of salt since many researchers need to turn to industry for money.
Thanks for the great comment Trevor!
You’re right, most of the chocolate available today is full of stuff that’s not particularly healthy and the processes the chocolate goes through neutralizes most of the beneficial antioxidants that provide the health benefits of pure dark chocolate. Without all the additives and with the right processing, dark chocolate has been demonstrated to provide many health benefits. The trick is to get the good stuff.
I found a great tasting, healthy dark chocolate that has the highest ORAC rating (measures the antioxidant value) available anywhere. Their dark chocolate is cold processed to maintain the antioxidant benefits and very little is added.
Those interested in learning more about the health benefits and where to purchase this extremely healthy dark chocolate in many delicious forms can visit http://www.HealingWithChocolate.com.
This healthy chocolate is even recommended for diabetics to help stabilize their blood sugar. It’s recommended for cardiac patients who have been instructed to lower their cholesterol and blood pressure too. It’s even been reported, in several studies, to help you lose weight.
It’s phenomenal that such a delicious treat can provide such amazing health benefits.
Coming soon…they’re launching an Extreme Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie in the beginning of Feb. 2008 and you can pre-order at a reduced rate at http://www.HealingWithChocolate.com.
Please contact me if I can be of service.
In-Joy! Shelia Norling
P.S. The healthy dark chocolate discussed at http://www.HealingWithChocolate.com is setting the standard in research into dark chocolate’s health benefits. It has been ambiguous as to what dark chocoate the research has been performed on to date. However, scientific papers being published this month will set a new standard by which dark chocolate’s health benefits will be measured.
Real dark chocolate is good for you! I learnt recently that archaeologists have found evidence that the Mayans used cacao and as early as 1,500 B.C. these early people had discovered the health benefits of chocolate.
Back then it was a bitter beverage used for its nourishing qualities and ability to boost energy and stamina; treat stomach and intestinal complaints and infections, fever and coughs!
Hmmm, that was interesting. Looks like somethings will always remain mystery.
I myself has been trying to solve the mystery of the legend that forces you to have “earn it before
having it”, for a wile now. Could not understand much though.
Let me know in case you get to understand the mystery of the Old Hound and the Legend
By the way, good writing style. I’d love to read more on similar topics