Dark Chocolate Flavanols Slow Aging Benefits - Improve Blood Flow - Limit Strokes
82Chocolate Flavanols Slow Aging
Chocolate flavanols slow aging according to Barry Callebaut, the world's largest chocolate maker. Great news if you are looking for an excuse to eat chocolate. Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants and has been touted as lowering blood pressure and helping to reduce the risk of strokes. Chocolate helps the body fight free radicals.
Barry Callebaut's has now developed a new chocolate that is packed with flavanols that work as antioxidants. Chocolate flavanols slow aging by boosting skin elasticity and improving skin hydration. Scientists claim that eating chocolate can make you look younger. Tests show that if you eat just 20 g (0.755 oz) everyday of this chocolate will help prevent the aging process. That sounds like a pretty good deal for chocolate lovers to me. Chocolate lovers and savvy investors are now looking to invest in chocolate companies now.
The Food of the Gods
Flavanols are produced naturally and found in various fruits, red wine, teas and cocoa beans. Cocoa beans, from which chocolate is made, have a unique mixture of flavanols. Flavanols are phytonutrients and different fruits have different properties. The benefits of cocoa have been known by ancient civilizations as far back as the Aztec. The Aztecs drank cocoa and called it "The food of the Gods”.
Barry Callebaut's says they have developed a new way to effectively increase flavanols in chocolate bars. Their process preserves the flavanols in cocoa beans during the chocolate-making process. This is an important finding as the epicatechin flavanols are quite unstable and Sylvain Doré, PhD has stated after tests on flavanols properties " even if you drink a lot of cocoa, it doesn't mean that the active compound is still there."
Chocolate has a High ORAC score
An Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) score are an analysis that measures the antioxidant levels of different foods. A high ORAC score equates to a food being high in antioxidants.
Antioxidants help eliminate oxygen free radicals. With the ORAC score, a higher score means the food is better at helping us fight diseases that free radicals assist such as heart disease and cancers.
Chocolate Treats
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Flavanols Protecting Against Strokes
There have been a number of studies suggesting flavanols slow down the destruction of cells by free radicals. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University believe that the flavanols found in dark chocolate protects you against strokes. The flavanols in dark chocolate are called epicatechin.
Sylvain Doré, PhD is the associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine and Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. Dr Doré has said that "We have identified what we believe is part of that pathway; we're not saying it's the only pathway, but we think it's the major one." Dr. Doré added, "One of the goals of this study was to understand how EC is protective".
Epicatechin appeared to also work on another model of brain injury NMDA induced excitotoxicity. The results were published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism on May 5, 2010. The results used mice as test subjects. The tests show that epicatechin ‘provides neuro protection against brain injury induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), induced excitotoxicity and that this protection occurs through activation of a pathway involving the heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) enzyme and the transcriptional factor Nrf2.
What is interesting is the studies suggest that epicatechin is activated through an indirect antioxidant pathway. This would suggest it doesn’t have a direct antioxidant effect as previously thought. This is important to understand how much dark chocolate you need to eat or drink for positive effects. Importantly how much is too much!
Dr. Doré concludes, "If you don't know how an agent works, then it's very difficult to estimate the dose, it's very difficult to estimate potential risks, and it's difficult to appreciate the complexity of the system."
Dr. Doré warns us that "We have to be very careful because chocolate by itself is not healthy; it's full of saturated fat and sugar and doesn't have many other nutrients."
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Further Tests for Other Neurological Disorders
Dr. Doré intends to test flavanols to see if it has benefits for other neurological disorders. These disorders include Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Doré says, "Potentially any disease characterized by loss of neurons that would benefit from saving those neurons from dying."
There is doubt however about flavanols benefits for younger looking skin. Richard Hurrell, Professor of Human Nutrition at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology says that ‘‘the possible effects on skin and cognitive performance are less well established. There is evidence, but it is much less consistent. It may be that the effect on the blood flow is also what improves memory or skin health in some of the studies.'
He does acknowledge thought that ‘There is quite a lot of evidence that cocoa flavanols have a positive effect on the blood flow. They could reduce blood pressure which could have a positive effect on cardiovascular diseases.'
What does all this mean? Chocolate lovers are excited that chocolate Flavanols Slow Aging, Improves Blood Flow, Limits Strokes and above all tastes great. It seems the evidence is very strong for the blood and neurological benefits. Skin benefits maybe inconclusive but a good chocolate bar at least in make you feel young right?
Read More on Chocolate's Benefits
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Comments on Chocolate Flavanols Slow AgingLoading...
Yes I hardly need an excuse to eat chocolate Joshua but anyway here is another one :)
billy seriously if it will slow aging would it be that my birthday will be on 23rd June in place of 23rd May(smile),jokes apart I use it when travelling in no meals (low budget for you) planes.I will help myself with an extra one from now on.
Glad I could help Suny plan your healthy traveling snacks - I wonder if it is like the saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away - a chocolate bar a day keeps the wrinkles away :)
It's a hoax LOL, been eating that stuff all my life and I look as old as Willie Nelson! Oh, wait never mind........
I eat chocolate every single night!
50 Caliber Willie looks pretty dang good though, wait that isn't chocolate in Willie's veggie mobile...
Good to see Pop - I do have a hot cocoa or similar every night find it also calms me before bedtime also.
I have eaten a fair bit so far still got wrinkles. But great to know it is still good for us. can eat more now.
Eileen my thoughts too - they keep saying dark chocolate but you got to figure dairy milk is good too right? :)
Great content and usefull too.
Thank you for this great Hub .
Ron
as always also a2z50
Thanks Ron - glad you found it useful.
Most people seem to like either milk chocolate or dark chocolate, not both. I've been the odd one in my family, preferring dark chocolate. Nice to know I made a good choice.
Interesting reading. I'm addicted to chocolate and it's nice to be able to eat it while claiming I'm doing it for my health.
Of course, chocolate is good for you. I knew that even when health professionals were saying it wasn't. But now we who are chocoholics do not have to make excuses for our addition. Thanks for the interesting read, Billy.
I wrote a hub once upon a time about the benefits of chocolate, too. http://hubpages.com/t/1066af. Be my guest.
I'll will eat my far share. I should be really healthy
Keep on hubbing!
Now you have done it. I have a chocolate craving. Nice hub.
Billy, I have also done some research on dark chocolate as a cancer prevention food. It is about the only sweet I eat anymore. Great hub, and glad to know it may improve my appearance while I attempt to prevent caner. (: v
Nice , love chocolate milk chocolate is my favorite.
Yummy! As if I actually needed an excuse to eat chocolate... but it's good to have some. :)
Sheila good choice! I actually like all chocolate, even white chocolate. I would say milk chocolate is my favorite - time to change that to dark.
Kay nothing wrong with a 'good healthy addiction' :)
drbj - it nice to vindicated for all that chocolate we got in trouble for as kids! I checked your chocolate hub out but the link was broken. here is the correct link http://hubpages.com/hub/Chocolate-Benefits-Facts-F
A perfect desert for this hub :)
Eovery stay healthy, keep those chocolates going.
Sorry Sandy - didn't mean to force you....
Valerie it is nice to say there is some good news out there. Especially from one of our favorite vices.
Rose chocolate milk is wonderful and now there are all these added benefits you might not have known about it - now the cookies to go with it - not so good. :)
Very true Angela if there was ever a food that didn't need an excuse to eat it - chocolate would be it, So now I know Easter eggs are good for you - why didn't I get more growing up? :(
Well - I'm a bit of a health nut - but betweeen berries, watermelon, nuts and now chocolate, a person begins to wonder if they're pulling our leg! By the way - I've been eating more chocolate and I got a case of the shingles. But at least it wasn't any of the things it's supposed to help prevent!
Interesting article, billy - and a nice relief from all the world's economic disasters!
Oh man... talk about a win-win !!!!!
Nellieanna hopefully it helps your chocolate - at least we know it isn't a new idea the Aztecs rated it! So if you have a glass of red wine with some dark chocolate every night you are in good shape! Seems like sage advice to me :)
I know Carolina it was one of those studies you just go with right.
Just love it. Another excuse to eat chocolate (as if I needed any). And thoroughly researched. Great job !
Just trying to help all the chocolate lovers out oishi :)
Nice one Billy..I love chocolate and I also have a heart condition...this has perked me up.
Glad I can help my friend :)
Dark chocolate has many medicinal effects, but one has to make sure that they are ingesting the "DARK" chcoclate, bitter sweet or even unsweetend is the best.
Brother Dave.
Thanks Dave - the Aztecs used to drink it as a hot beverage - I think what we call hot chocolate today :)
Does this mean that I can stiuff my face with chocolate lol?
Tasty Hub
I won't tell anyone Ethel if you don't :)
Any excuse to justify chocolate is OK with me. Now lets find some justification for sugar!
Very true Joe on the chocolate - might be a struggle to justify sugar though - but I am all ears :)
Great subject matter! I swear by Dutch cocoa; a nice, hot cup of it at night. But sugar is a no-no for me. Vanilla flavored soy milk makes a good sweetener, though.
I found this article just in time. This is great information. I sure need to slow aging. I had read that dark chocolate was good for diets. Small amount of course.
This is very informative and thank you for sharing.
Hi Billy,
You sure you should have mentioned what Chocolate did for the Aztec's.... They're exctinct aren't they ?
However if anybody is interested I have a few chocolte receipes and I don't use anything less that 76% Cocoa solids...
Yeah baby! Way to go Billy! Chocolate is my drug of choice! I just read somewhere else on the internet that alcohol is also good for holding off the effects of Alzheimer disease! If I die with a glass of wine in one hand and a bite of chocolate in the other then I am one happy camper - dead, but happy! ;-) Well written and great job!
BLESS YOU! Now I have yet another excuse to buy and eat DARK chocolate!!!
Tracy that does sound good - maybe some marshmellow on top too :)
lctodd1947 glad you got to find out about dark chocolate - they can't be a better tasting way to stop the aging process out there :)
Good moring, my friend. Thanks for writing about chocolate. This is my favorite. I am glad it good for our healthy. Thumbs up for you and I rate this one. Good work, my friend.
Prasetio
Just gave me a reason. Thanks!
Merlin mate you can't blame the chocolate ... you can never blame the chocolate - please share the chocolate recipes with us, I am sure they are delicious
Mischelle exactly right red wine and dark chocolate - they say God works in mysterious ways and there you have it. Also it is written that the benefits are enhanced by the fact they lower stress - especially wine. The key is moderation - got to stop at the to glasses and 20 grams or so. :) Now that is the test!
prasetio30 thank you for your compliments and glad to unearth another chocolate lover amongst us!
clspeakstoo glad I assisted in your chocolate craving :)
do double stuffed oreos count ;) smart, well informed and just downright amazing Hub. . you never cease to impress me! Rated upwardly awesome!
Wave girl that sounds pretty tempting - so good with cold milk! Have to have a dark chocolate bar though I suspect instead.... Thanks for your feedback :)
Well, I'm definitely upping my dark chocolate intake! I prefer it to blueberries any day - thanks for a fun and information-filled article.
Red Elf how about chocolate covered blueberries or strawberries?
Chocolate Flavanols are so powerful, I think I should go find some now... Thanks and Peace :)
Great idea Katie - a good way to set the tone for the day I think.
I love the chocolate covered almonds to butt.. I mean death!
Micky chocolate has to be good energy food for your bike touring too I would have thought.
Oh my.. chocolate covered strawberries! I love this 'being healthy' stuff! In fact, I'm going out to the kitchen to mix myself a drink of dark chocolate right this minute :-)
Great stuff Silver Genes - any good chocolate ideas don't be shy of sharing them with us :)
Wonderful hub. Such a wonderful benefit and delicious. God Bless You.
Thanks stars439 for your comments - delicious indeed!
Great research you've done -- and great news.
Thanks Pamela - it is great news, we need to find out other health benefits from treats like this. :)
If only I could restrict myself to 20 gm a day, have chocolate must eat it, so deny myself instead, but this seems so rewarding in its results that maybe I'll try a bit harder and thoroughly enjoy those 20gm each day, instead of a ton all at once.
I have to agree Katy that is a big effort to only have 20 gm a day! Yes you have to limit the intact - no binge chocolate sessions!
wonderful hub! very intresting! :)
Thanks Mary for your feedback
Chocolate and diabetes don't mix. But a diabetic like me who suffered TIA (Transient Ischematic Attack)lately,would be grateful for this information- that flavanols in chocolate lessen strokes. Wonderful! Thank you.
Lita thanks for your comments. I am sorry about your TIA and am grateful that you stopped by and shared with us all.
Wow, just more great reasons to love chocolate. Thanks for sharing
Oceansunsets isn't it great! :)
lol i have got to show my mom this
Great idea starqueen - the whole family can benefit from the fruits of that dark chocolate bar you have sitting there :)
Wow, i bet this article make lots of people happy! mmmm chocolate.
Marty Ware
The SEO DAD
Marty thanks for your comments - yes chocolates do make people happy - including me :)
When it comes to eating chocolate, I need zero convincing. That said, I do love the fact that dark chocolate does have some health benefits since I have a bit of chocolate every day (and yes, I really do mean every day)! Love the chart .... I had no idea that berries are so high in flavanols.
Janice yes the flavanols in berries and chocolates are high - why I recommend chocolate coated blueberries and strawberries - for health reasons of course. :)
Vote up! Very good information. Especially about the part regarding strokes. Going to look for some chocolates later;) Great hub, bro.
Hubpageswriter it seems the benefits of chocolate are endless - the key is just don't eat too much. But is that a loaded question?
This hub definitely gets an 'up' mark - any excuse to eat more chocolate is good news.
2patricias you are right any excuse to eat dark chocolate and get those chocolate flavanols ;)
Now, if we could just combine dark chocolate with bee pollen, I could control my allergies, live longer, and enjoy my favorite indulgence all at the same time ;)
RedElf now there is a potential marketing windfall - bee pollen chocolates.....
THANK YOU for removing some of this dark chocoholics angst about eating a bit now and then. I buy semi sweet dark chocolate chips and keep them in the fridge. when i just have to have chocolate, i eat 10-15 of them.
Bayou Lady I am glad you feel better about eating those dark chocolate chips - it helps knowing chocolate flavanols slow aging and improve blood flow - and the limiting stokes is pretty good too - so eat away.
Do we know what percentage of epicatechin is found in dark chocolate? One article I came across shows that it can have up to 58mg. Is that enough? And if one were to drink milk it reduces further. I like chocolate but it's clear that pure cocoa is more effective than what is found in stores (with sugar added). However, a site that highly focuses on the HO1 and nrf2 as you pointed out earlier is, www.theoldage.com.
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I love chocolate! And I shall surely keep this in mind as I'm being tempted at the grocery store, and worryin' about my weight. Thanks Billy. (I was being serious).