Could chocolate be healthy?

To eat or not to eat chocolate, that is the question. Studies are popping up everywhere regarding the health effects of flavanol-rich cocoa on the body’s cardiovascular system. Such a study was performed by researchers from Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Participants included 15 healthy adults under the age of 50 and 19 healthy adults over the age of 50. As part of the study, the participants ingested a cocoa beverage every day for four to six days while the researchers documented the changes in function of their peripheral arteries. Overall, blood vessel function in the participants had significantly improved after consumption of the cocoa beverage.

The discovery made in this study shows that flavanol-rich cocoa can and does improve blood vessel function in healthy older people. According to Naomi Fisher, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the study’s co-author states, “Aging is typically associated with deterioration in vessel health, specifically related to function of the critical inner lining, or endothelium. Our findings demonstrate that consumption of this flavanol-rich cocoa can improve the function of blood vessels in a healthy elderly population.” However, she does seem uncertain about the effects of cocoa in elderly adults with already cardiovascular problems. "More research is needed to see if older adults with cardiovascular disease can also experience these improvements following consumption of this cocoa, but these initial findings certainly offer great promise." I guess we shall see in the near future how chocolate, specifically cocoa, can improve our way of eating leading to a healthier lifestyle.

http://www.naturalnews.com/019950.html