January/February 2007 Alternative Health
Healthy Chocolate: So Good and Good for You

by Cathy McGuire

Imagine one of your guilty pleasures - magically turned into a health food. The news isn't that good, but it's close.

An Italian study recently showed that eating 100 grams of dark chocolate daily for 15 days actually lowered blood pressure. The Journal of the American Medical Association recently published similar findings of a German study, focusing serious attention on the health benefits of chocolate.

Cocoa was first consumed 2,000 years ago in Mexico and Central America, where natives ground up cacao seeds and mixed them with spices to make a stimulating drink. When the Spanish conquistadors brought cocoa back home to Spain, they added sugar, and the rest is history.

But for years, chocolate has had a bad reputation as causing tooth decay, pimples, clogged arteries, fatigue - you name it. Chocolate was strictly in the eat at your own risk category. Now that's changing. One study found that flavonol-rich cocoa and chocolate act similarly to low-dose aspirin in promoting healthy blood flow. Reducing the blood's ability to clot also reduces the risk of stroke and heart attacks.

Other studies show that chocolate is a natural analgesic, and high-fat chocolate triggers the brain to produce natural opiates, which explains why a bar of chocolate is so attractive after a hard day. Chocolate also contains the neurotransmitter serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant. Other substances, such as theobromine and phenylethylamine, have a stimulating effect. So if it feels like chocolate gives you a lift and improves your mood - it's not all in your mind.

And new studies suggest that chocolate may not be bad for teeth. While both cocoa and chocolate contain sugar, they apparently also have properties that work against sugar's tendency to produce the oral bacteria that eventually leads to dental decay. In fact, researchers have concluded that milk chocolate, with its phosphate and other minerals, is a snack food least likely to contribute to tooth decay.

The good news continues. Holland's National Institute of Public Health and Environment found that chocolate contains up to four times the antioxidants found in black tea. According to the University of Scranton, a 40 gram serving of milk chocolate contains about 400 milligrams of antioxidants, the same as a glass of red wine.

But don't go buying chocolate by the carton just yet.

"While dark chocolate may be higher in antioxidants than strawberries, and possibly of benefit to the heart and an aid in lowering blood pressure, most chocolates are high in fat, sugar and calories. It is important to choose only organic dark chocolate," says Gregory deBruler, a health consultant based in Bingen, Wash. "Moderation and balance are always the key. Enjoy that decadent piece of chocolate and feel good about eating it, but don't overindulge because you may find your waistline enlarging and your health deteriorating rather than getting better."