Introduction
Chocolate is one of the most beloved treats around the world. But did you know that eating chocolate can have a surprising effect on your health? A new study suggests that eating chocolate can have a positive impact on your overall health and wellbeing. The study found that people who ate chocolate regularly had lower levels of stress, improved cognitive function, and better cardiovascular health. This article will explore the surprising effects of eating chocolate and how it can benefit your health.
The Surprising Effect of Eating Chocolate, New Study Suggests
A new study published in the journal Nutrients suggests that eating chocolate may have a surprising effect on your health. The study, which was conducted by researchers from the University of California, San Diego, found that people who ate chocolate regularly had lower levels of inflammation and improved cardiovascular health.
The study included over 1,000 participants who were asked to report their chocolate consumption over the course of a year. The researchers found that those who ate chocolate at least once a week had lower levels of inflammation markers in their blood, as well as improved cardiovascular health. The researchers also found that the benefits of eating chocolate were more pronounced in those who ate dark chocolate.
The researchers believe that the antioxidants found in chocolate may be responsible for the health benefits. Antioxidants are compounds that can help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals, which are molecules that can damage cells and lead to disease. The researchers also suggest that the flavonoids found in chocolate may also play a role in the health benefits.
The study is the latest in a growing body of research that suggests that eating chocolate may have health benefits. While more research is needed to confirm the findings, the study provides further evidence that eating chocolate may be beneficial for your health.
So if you’re looking for a delicious and healthy snack, consider adding some chocolate to your diet. Just remember to choose dark chocolate, as it contains more antioxidants and flavonoids than milk chocolate.
You may think of chocolate as an “unhealthy” food, but dark chocolate can actually have benefits for everything from your mood to your skin.
While eating a bar of caramel-filled milk chocolate every day is probably not the most nutritious choice, having a couple of squares of dark chocolate can be just what the doctor ordered, as it were.
Now, a new study finds that supplementing people’s diets with cocoa extract is linked with a lower risk of dying from heart disease.
In the study, published earlier this month in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers examined more than 20,000 U.S. adults ages 60 and up, following up after several years, supplementing some participants’ diets with cocoa extract. Those who received the supplement were significantly less likely to die of cardiovascular disease.
“We found that cocoa flavanol supplementation may reduce clinical cardiovascular events, including a statistically significant 27% reduction in… cardiovascular disease (CVD) death,” study author Howard D. Sesso, ScD, MPH, tells Eat This, Not That!.
Flavanols are compounds found in cocoa powder, chocolate, and other foods, and they have been linked with a range of health benefits. A 2014 study on cocoa flavanols, also published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that they could play a role in protecting you from cognitive decline as you age.
Additionally, a 2005 study published in the American Heart Association’s Hypertension journal found evidence that flavanols from chocolate can reduce blood pressure.
One major point to flag in this most recent study is that researchers received grants from Mars, Incorporated, the company that owns M&M’S, Snickers, Twix, Dove and more. Mars provided the study pills and packaging. However, the implications of the study extend beyond just chocolate products.
“Flavanols are not only found in the cocoa bean, but also in berries, tea, and grapes, among other fruits and vegetables that remain a critical part of a healthy diet for overall health,” Sesso says. “[This] was not a chocolate trial, but rather a trial testing a cocoa extract supplement.”
He added that understanding exactly how cocoa flavanols affect cardiovascular health “requires additional research.” Still, given the proven health benefits of dark chocolate, you may as well pick up a bar on your next trip to the grocery store, especially if you enjoy the taste.
For more on how your favorite candy could be affecting your body, check out the Side Effects of Eating Chocolate, According to Science.