Does Eating Chocolate Reduce Your Risk of Death?


Regular cocoa consumption could lower your blood pressure and even cut your risk of dying of a heart attack in half.

In a 15-year long Dutch study, over 450 men aged over 65 were divided into three groups based on their cocoa intake. The high-consumption group consisted of those who ate at least 4 grams each day.

Those in the group that consumed the least cocoa proved to be twice as likely to die of a heart attack as those who ate the most. Furthermore, those who consumed the most cocoa were also less likely to die of any cause, and had lower blood pressure than the other groups.

However, medical groups have urged caution, noting that raw cocoa and chocolate are not exactly the same. Eating 4 grams of cocoa would require consuming 100 grams of dark chocolate, at 500 calories plus in most commercial prepaations, high amounts of sugar.


Archives of Internal Medicine February 27, 2006; 166(4): 411-417

USA Today February 28, 2006

New Scientist February 27, 2006



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Dr. Mercola's Comment:


A growing number of studies have indicated the health benefits of eating minimally processed dark chocolate. But this new study demonstrates that there's still room for surprising results.

Interestingly, the male patients who ate the most cocoa-derived products were no heavier and ate no more food than those who consumed less cocoa, according to the study.

But researchers were wisely cautious about any sort of blanket recommendation of chocolate, however, noting these men probably shared other qualities that made them healthy, and I suspect that's true. Additionally, a lot of people may use these results to justify poor health choices like consuming harmful processed chocolate products chock full of lead and insulin raising sugar.

If you're concerned about eating chocolate, I urge you to follow some simple guidelines to keep your eating habits safe and healthy:

One: If you eat chocolate, only eat DARK chocolate. Dark chocolate has antioxidant properties, which can actually help to protect the body from damaging oxidative stress. It also is far better than milk chocolate, as adding milk cancels out the chocolate's antioxidant effects. However, even if chocolate is dark, that does not necessarily mean it is healthy; most chocolate, dark or milk, is processed in ways that destroy the majority of the beneficial polyphenolic bioflavanoids.

Two: Only eat chocolate if you're healthy. Chocolate, even if it is dark, still contains large quantities of sugar, and eating sugar is a profoundly negative influence on your immune system. It should be avoided if you are sick.

Three: Consume chocolate in moderation. A small bit of chocolate can be very satisfying if you savor each bite, rather than just wolfing it down. Also, if you are constantly craving sweets, you are likely not eating the correct balance of protein, fats and carbohydrates for your metabolic type. If you tend to crave chocolate when you are upset, bored or lonely, then you could benefit from resolving these underlying emotional issues that are driving you to seek comfort from chocolate.

By the way, if you've been looking for a healthy chocolate bar and haven't found one, you may want to try the Dagoba Eclipse Chocolate Bars sold in our Web store.
http://www.mercola.com/20..._death.htm




Yeah- I can keep eating my dark chocolate!!!

that's excellent news!

I keep me a stash of green & blacks bakers chocolate.

its good it tastes fruit like. It taste nothing like other bakers chocolate.
And it has no animal products in it!

Tommi2 said:

I love Green & Blacks too!
I find most of mine in the health food stores.
Hershey's just came out with a 60 or 70% Cocoa Dark Choc bar with blue berries & nuts

I have only seen them at Target-
I eat a square every night after dinner...

Yes, if I eat enough choclate, I am likely to NOT kill someone, reading that it lowers blood pressure.

French people eat more chocolate than any other country per capita, (preferably dark), and of course they are known for their good health and longevity.

just buy dark chocolate with a 78% or higher cacao level

IstenSzek said:

exactly ... loads of people will think they can run out and eat as much over sugared chocolate now that they want to ... and thats not the point

Mach said:

But I don't like dark chocolate, just milk chocolate

Serious said:

well than you''ll just have to accept that you're gonna die

IstenSzek said:

and FASTER



J/K

purpleunderground said:

you beat me to it!

Mach said:

Yes, yes! Everyone eat more chocolate!

WillyWonka said:

Truly good chocolate doesn't even contain THAT much sugar.

This is my favorite. . . amazing dark chocolate from heirloom cocoa beans. . .




From echocolates.com:

"Grown solely in Ecuador, “Arriba” is the only cocoa varietal with a perfumed floral scent before roasting the cocoa bean. Its flavor is smooth, nutty, with a long dominant chocolate note and no bitterness or acidity. To transmit the purest Arriba flavor, we did not add any vegetable fat nor vanilla covering aroma. Our chocolate bars have a high content of cocoa solids, less cocoa butter fat and a lower glycemic index. The cocoa beans are roasted slowly to preserve the high antioxidant levels of pure cocoa

Vintage Chocolate’s mission is to safeguard heirloom cocoa varietals, encourage sustainable shade cocoa cultivation methods preserving the rain forest, and guarantee a fair price for cacao farmers."
[Edited 3/16/06 13:43pm]

SeattleInvasion said:

I am gonna have to get me some of that!!

Thanks!!

The darker the better!!

IrresistibleB1tch said:

my all time fave

charlottegelin said:

Guess I need to try that too!!

shanti0608 said:

it's as creamy like milk chocolate, but all dark & vegan!

has any research been done on girl scout cookies?

sinisterpentatonic said:

They are bad for you!!

shanti0608 said:

bad meaning bad or bad meaning good?

sinisterpentatonic said:

I have not done a study on them or anything but I have read the labels.. Which would make them bad as in bad for your health...
That's why they taste so good!

shanti0608 said:

i guess you gotta take the good with the bad.

sinisterpentatonic said:

Exactly!!
That is why I was glad to hear that dark chocolate is not so bad for you in moderation..

they are now saying that pleasure will extend your life, don't deprive yourself of things you love (always in moderation), bitter and twisted = early grave

shanti0608 said:

yeah dark chocolate is the best.
[Edited 3/17/06 12:18pm]

Serious said: