CHOCOLATE & HEALTH NEWS

Barry Callebaut is forging ahead with research that could establish the humble cocoa bean as one of the most potent healthy foods available to man, according to the chocolate giant's chief innovation officer... Full Story

There's an increasing amount of research that calls chocolate a health food, holistic nutrition practitioner Victoria Laine says. Her book, "Health by Chocolate," explains how to get the benefits of raw cacao, which studies have found might protect against heart disease and even some cancers. Canada.com

A Japanese study of 39 healthy adults found that flavonoid-rich dark chocolate can help improve blood flow in the coronary arteries. Participants who ate 550 milligrams of dark chocolate daily for two weeks were found to have improved coronary flow velocity reserve, while those who ate the same amount of white chocolate over the same period showed no change in CFVR. The Washington Post/HealthDay News

Chocolate study signals way to personalised health diets. A study has shed new light on people's food preferences and a specific chemical signature that can be programmed into the metabolic system, leading the way to healthy diets that cater to an individual's needs. Full Story

Chocolate cravings could be a result of stomach bacteria in people's digestive system that is linked to a desire for chocolate, according to a study at the Nestle Research Center in Switzerland, reported Fox News Channel. Full Story

Dark chocolate may help alleviate the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, a British study says. The study's lead author says polyphenols in dark chocolate are responsible for a reduction of symptoms of the condition, which is characterized by muscle fatigue after physical exertion. BBC

Several research articles have been published recently in scientific and medical journals concerning the benefits of products based on cocoa (Theobroma cacao, Sterculiaceae), including chocolate, for cardiovascular health. Full Story

Study: Chocolate Better than Flouride for Healthy Teeth? New research suggests an extract of cocoa powder that occurs naturally in chocolates, teas, and other products might be an effective natural alternative to fluoride in toothpaste, according to Tulane University. Full Story

Chocolate lovers have one more reason to celebrate. It seems that eating just 30 calories a day of dark chocolate a day can help lower blood pressure, without weight gain or other side effects, according to a new study. Full Story

Cocoa compound boosts memory, scientists say! A natural compound found in cocoa, blueberries, tea and grapes enhances memory in mice, especially when combined with exercise, according to newly published research. More

Cocoa powder contains an extract that is more powerful for fighting cavities than fluoride, Tulane University researchers have found. The compound consists of a white power that often is found in chocolate and can be used in a toothpaste to help harden tooth enamel and prevent cavities. ConfectioneryNews.com

Study: Chocolate sweetens men's health Chocolate-loving older men tend to be leaner, more educated, skinnier and suffer from diabetes less than those who eat other sweets, according to a new study reported in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Semisweet Chocolate eaters also had better attitudes about their lives and were still planning for the future, the study found. China Daily (Beijing)

Study: Flavanol-rich cocoa boosts blood vessel function Researchers have discovered daily consumption of a specially created cocoa drink might have a positive effect on blood vessel health. The cocoa studied was rich in flavanols, naturally occurring compounds found in freshly harvested cocoa that can be destroyed during standard processing and manufacturing procedures. Newindpress.com (India)

As if people needed another excuse to like chocolate, new studies suggest a specially formulated type of cocoa may boost brain function and delay decline as people age, researchers said on Sunday. Full Story

Barry Callebaut has produced a new website www.acticoa.com entirely devoted to promoting the nutritional benefits of cocoa in an effort to counteract the increasingly unhealthy image of chocolate products and their unpopularity in a health-conscious market. Full Story

The Chocolate Manufacturers Association released a guide to cacao content labels to provide consumers with useful information and help them understand cacao terminology, reported Confectionery News.com. Full Story

Nearly half of Americans (46%) eat chocolate at least a few times per week, according to a recent survey by Barry Callebaut. Approximately four out of 10 Americans (43%) would buy chocolate that promises health benefits, and almost half of those surveyed (45%) would be willing to pay more for "health enhancing" chocolate. Full Story

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that chocolate thins blood and protects the heart in the same way as aspirin. Flavanol, is the key compound in chocolate which slows down platelet clumping that can block off blood vessels and lead to a heart attack or stroke, reported Houston Chronicle. Full Story

Study: Chocolate more exciting than kissing - A private research study found that the effects of eating chocolate on the heart rate and brain activity were more intense and long-lasting than the effects of kissing. Six couples in their 20s were monitored once as semisweet chocolate melted in their mouth and again as the couples kissed. "While we fully expected chocolate, especially dark chocolate, to increase heart rates due to the fact it contains some highly stimulating substances, both the length of this increase together with the powerful effects it had on the mind were something none of us had anticipated," one psychologist said. The Age (Melbourne, Australia)

Drinking an unprocessed kind of cocoa that is not yet commercially available may help improve blood vessel function, according to a new report published in The Journal of Hypertension. The study's authors receive grant support from Mars Inc., which also supplied the cocoa used in the experiments, reported The New York Times on the Web. Full Story

Candy industry focused on health - The annual candy expo of the National Confectioners Association was recently held in Chicago to showcase new product innovations. The development of healthier alternatives to conventional snack products was a common theme at this year's expo. Low-calorie candy products were unveiled by several companies including Hershey Co., Nestle USA, and Russell Stover Candy Co.'s Whitman's unit. The chocolate manufacturer Botticelli promoted a new "cardio" bar featuring 400 milligrams of the heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Candy fortified with various nutrients remains a strong trend in the industry. According to a report by the Mintel Group, more than 100 fortified chocolate and candy products have entered the market since 2003. The most common types of fortification include calcium, omega-3s and vitamin C.

A new study suggests that eating milk chocolate may boost brain function. "Chocolate contains many substances that act as stimulants, such as theobromine, phenethylamine, and caffeine,which by themselves have previously been found to increase alertness and attention," according to Dr. Bryan Raudenbush from Wheeling Jesuit University, WV.

WebMD answers questions on Chocolate and Your Health in a Feb,2006 article.

Why Cocoa May Help Heart Health. Antioxidants Are Key -- and Not Always Saved in Cocoa Processing. Antioxidants in cocoa might help your heart by keeping your blood vessels relaxed, thus easing blood pressure and helping circulation. So says a study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Dark-chocolate sales increased 42% over the last five years, and one in three new chocolate products is semisweet chocolate so far this year, compared with one in seven in 2005, according to ACNielsen. As demand for quality dark chocolate grew, the industry rushed to cater to its core customers, women ages 25 to 40, who, surveys by Mintel indicate, consume on average eight servings a month. Hershey's, Godiva, Nestle's and Ghirardelli are among the brands catering to this trend, reported The Philadelphia Inquirer. Full Story

Many American chocolate companies have begun labeling their bars according to cacao content, a blend of cocoa solids and cocoa butter. Chocolate's taste is influenced more by the origin, blend and roasting of the cocoa beans. A professor of baking and pastry at the Culinary Institute of America, expects the next wave in chocolate marketing to focus on origin and variety of cocoa beans, similar to how coffee is classified, reported TwinCitites.com. Full Story

A new study reveals the chemical in chocolate that produces known heart-healthy benefits. The research found that epicatechin, one of a group of chemicals known as flavanols, is directly linked to improved circulation and other hallmarks of cardiovascular health. Full Story

Chocolate may help repair damage to smokers' blood vessels, at least temporarily, a new study shows. The benefit may stem from antioxidants called flavonols that are found in chocolate (and fruits and vegetables), according to researchers in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, reported Fox News. Full Story

Flavanols Key To Potential Chocolate Benefits (September 29, 2005) — Phytochemicals known as flavanols, which are found in chocolate, fruits and vegetables, can boost the levels of nitric oxide in the blood of smokers and reverse some of their smoking-related impairment in blood vessel function, according to a new study in the Oct. 4, 2005, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. full story

Researchers at the University of L'Aquila in Italy found that bittersweet chocolate may help the body use insulin more effectively and decrease blood pressure

Eating bittersweet chocolate can result in short-term improvements in arterial function and blood pressure, according to a new study conducted at Yale University's Prevention Research Center and funded by The Hershey Company.

All products containing natural cocoa have flavanol antioxidants, confirmed a study sponsored by The Hershey Company in conjunction with Cornell University and Brunswick Laboratories. The study also found that the level of antioxidants in commonly available chocolate products is directly related to the amount of natural cocoa contained in that product.

Dark chocolate can lower blood pressure, according to a study published by the American Heart Association. The study joins a growing body of research that show compounds found in chocolate called flavonoids can help the blood vessels work more smoothly, perhaps reducing the risk of heart disease.

Dark chocolate, but not white chocolate, may help reduce blood pressure and boost the body's ability to metabolize sugar from food, according to the results of a study from the University of L'Aquila in Italy.

Upscale chocolate company Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier's is using health claims to tout its new Spa Chocolate, which urges consumers to "treat yourself to good health." The packaging says the candies contain ingredients "linked to improved cardiovascular health, lowered risk for certain types of cancer, a reduction in body weight and a slowing of the aging process," but critics disagree, reported STLtoday.com

The new Mars chocolate bar, called "Cocoa Via," contains a soybean extract that has been known to lower cholesterol. The candy bars, not yet in grocery stores, can be ordered online.

A 15-year investigation into the molecular composition and nutritional effects of cocoa, known in-house as the ''healthy chocolate'' initiative, by Mars Inc. Harold Schmitz, who oversees research for the firm with $17 billion in annual sales, seems to hope that cocoa - or more precisely, cocoa processed according to Mars's special methods, with extremely high flavanol levels - will then turn out to be among the most potent and popular functional foods yet created. Article

Cardiologists at Athens Medical School in Greece found that eating dark chocolate appears to improve the function of important cells lining the wall of blood vessels for at least three hours. But experts cautioned that the weight gain from eating a lot of bittersweet chocolate probably would cancel out the apparent benefit.

Eating dark chocolate helps blood vessels function more effectively, according to University of California researchers writing in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, reported BBC News. Full Story

European researchers found milk and other dairy products somehow discourage the body's ability to absorb the protective compounds in chocolate. Details of the study appeared the science journal Nature, reported Cape Argus. Full Story

A small study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that eating bittersweet chocolate can lower your blood pressure. The short study would need to be confirmed in larger, longer-term ones before doctors could recommend treatment with chocolate, researchers say, reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Candy makers and other food companies are marketing low-carbohydrate chocolates for adherents of the Atkins diet and other eating plans that restrict starchy and sugary foods. Manufacturers acknowledge that the low-carb candies contain the same sugar substitutes as sugar-free chocolates, but say that the new product packages will make more dieters aware of their snacking options, reported AZCentral.com.

Chocolate's Secret Power - Just 1 oz of dark chocolate packs a big antioxidant wallop according to this Prevention.com article. You've read it before: Dark chocolate, the richer in cocoa the better, is not only a to-die-for treat, it's actually good for you. And just 1 oz of a very special chocolate packs more than twice the healthy antioxidant punch of red wine or other dark chocolates.

Chocolate and cocoa may help prevent heart attacks, according to researchers at the University of California at San Francisco. So far, just two commercially available chocolate products - Dove dark chocolate bars and M&M Baking Bits - are known to contain high levels of flavanol, the substance linked to heart health, the study found. UCSF