* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Mavs CEO holds firm on new arena, entertainment district in Dallas – Dallas News

    Mavs CEO Stands Strong on Vision for New Arena and Entertainment District in Dallas

    Entertainment: On Your Marks, Get Set, Beer Run! – Urban Milwaukee

    Get Ready to Race: The Ultimate Beer Run Experience Awaits!

    Rachel Guttman Launches Entertainment Law Firm Gutt Law, PLLC [Exclusive] – MusicRow.com

    Rachel Guttman Unveils Exciting New Entertainment Law Firm: Gutt Law, PLLC!

    HYBE Cashes In: Offloads Final Stake in K-Pop Rival SM Entertainment for $177 Million!

    Allied Gaming & Entertainment Receives Expected Nasdaq Notice Regarding Delayed Quarterly Report – Business Wire

    Allied Gaming & Entertainment Faces Nasdaq Notice Over Delayed Quarterly Report

    Weekly Entertainment Report May 29-June 1: Where to find lively arts, music, and shows – Manchester Ink Link

    Weekly Entertainment Report May 29-June 1: Where to find lively arts, music, and shows – Manchester Ink Link

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Drone technology demo in Cambria County showcases future of lifesaving medical deliveries – local21news.com

    Revolutionizing Healthcare: Drone Technology Takes Flight for Lifesaving Medical Deliveries in Cambria County

    Revolutionary Harvesting Technology Promises to Slash CAR-T Manufacturing Costs!

    Stop the Machines: The Rise of Anti-Technology Extremism – International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – ICCT

    Unplugged: The Surge of Anti-Technology Extremism

    Finland to head EU’s quantum defense technology project – Latest news from Azerbaijan

    Finland Takes the Lead in Pioneering EU’s Quantum Defense Technology Initiative!

    i3D Robotics Unveils Breakthrough Glass Defect Detection Technology – USGlass Magazine

    Revolutionary Glass Defect Detection Technology Unveiled by i3D Robotics!

    4Liberty Announces Collaboration with Itron to Drive Innovation in Utility Technology Adoption and Optimization – FinancialContent

    4Liberty Partners with Itron to Revolutionize Utility Technology and Boost Innovation

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Mavs CEO holds firm on new arena, entertainment district in Dallas – Dallas News

    Mavs CEO Stands Strong on Vision for New Arena and Entertainment District in Dallas

    Entertainment: On Your Marks, Get Set, Beer Run! – Urban Milwaukee

    Get Ready to Race: The Ultimate Beer Run Experience Awaits!

    Rachel Guttman Launches Entertainment Law Firm Gutt Law, PLLC [Exclusive] – MusicRow.com

    Rachel Guttman Unveils Exciting New Entertainment Law Firm: Gutt Law, PLLC!

    HYBE Cashes In: Offloads Final Stake in K-Pop Rival SM Entertainment for $177 Million!

    Allied Gaming & Entertainment Receives Expected Nasdaq Notice Regarding Delayed Quarterly Report – Business Wire

    Allied Gaming & Entertainment Faces Nasdaq Notice Over Delayed Quarterly Report

    Weekly Entertainment Report May 29-June 1: Where to find lively arts, music, and shows – Manchester Ink Link

    Weekly Entertainment Report May 29-June 1: Where to find lively arts, music, and shows – Manchester Ink Link

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Drone technology demo in Cambria County showcases future of lifesaving medical deliveries – local21news.com

    Revolutionizing Healthcare: Drone Technology Takes Flight for Lifesaving Medical Deliveries in Cambria County

    Revolutionary Harvesting Technology Promises to Slash CAR-T Manufacturing Costs!

    Stop the Machines: The Rise of Anti-Technology Extremism – International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – ICCT

    Unplugged: The Surge of Anti-Technology Extremism

    Finland to head EU’s quantum defense technology project – Latest news from Azerbaijan

    Finland Takes the Lead in Pioneering EU’s Quantum Defense Technology Initiative!

    i3D Robotics Unveils Breakthrough Glass Defect Detection Technology – USGlass Magazine

    Revolutionary Glass Defect Detection Technology Unveiled by i3D Robotics!

    4Liberty Announces Collaboration with Itron to Drive Innovation in Utility Technology Adoption and Optimization – FinancialContent

    4Liberty Partners with Itron to Revolutionize Utility Technology and Boost Innovation

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

Is chocolate actually good for you?

February 13, 2024
in Science
Is chocolate actually good for you?
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

ByBrian Handwerk

Published February 12, 2024

The Maya loved cacao so much they used the beans as currency. They also believed it is good for you—which many people still say today about cacao’s most famous byproduct, chocolate.

In fact, cacao—which, also called cocoa, is the not-so-secret ingredient of chocolate—contains hundreds of bioactive plant compounds, including flavanols, which have been associated with numerous possible health benefits.

“Research on the bioactive components of the cacao bean pretty consistently shows that if you’re consuming greater amounts of flavanols you see mechanisms linked to heart disease are, by and large, favorably impacted,” says Howard Sesso, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. This includes improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

(How the world’s best chocolate is getting even better.)

But while cacao does have intriguing potential to boost heart health and brain function, no science supports eating large amounts of chocolate as a health food—sorry chocoholics. Here’s why.

Is chocolate really good for you?

Spurred by chocolate’s popularity, numerous studies have explored how the natural chemical compounds found in cocoa might be good for human health. While some have suggested that less than an ounce of dark chocolate might improve heart health, much of the research doesn’t involve eating actual chocolate but rather its components.

In 2022, Sesso and colleagues found compelling evidence for the benefits of flavanols. In a clinical trial of 21,000 adults, they found that the half of the group that took 500mg of cocoa flavanol supplements daily had a significantly lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease than those who had taken a placebo. (The COSMOS study, though independent, was funded in part by Mars Edge, a research arm of the candy maker.)

Flavanols may also boost insulin sensitivity, according to some studies, which might be helpful in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. But the results aren’t conclusive, and those at risk of diabetes might be wise to choose a cacao-inspired supplement instead of eating chocolate—and the sugar it contains.

(How Europe went cuckoo for cocoa in the 18th century.)

Other research suggests that the flavanols found in cacao (also present in fruits, vegetables, and tea) could slow cognitive decline during aging, or even boost brain performance by improving blood flow to the cerebral cortex. But there’s still more research to be done to understand these effects.

What these findings mean for chocolate is limited, however. Participants would have had to eat multiple fat and sugar filled chocolate bars a day to source 500mg of flavanols—and all chocolates are definitely not created equal.

Which kind of chocolate is healthier? 

Understanding why certain types of chocolate are healthier than the rest starts with how these variations are made. During production, cacao beans are separated into meaty solids, known as nibs, and a fatty portion called cocoa butter. It’s the solids that contain beneficial compounds like flavanols, but to produce chocolate they are mixed with cocoa butter, sugar, and sometimes milk.

“Any health benefits attributed to chocolate are due to its cocoa content,” says Tim Spector, genetic epidemiologist at King’s College London, and co-founder of the personalized nutrition company ZOE.

(Should you drink chocolate milk after a workout?)

In general milk chocolate has far fewer of these solids while dark chocolate contains more, as evidenced by its bitter taste. In the case of white chocolate, the cacao solids are completely discarded—along with the flavanols and other beneficial compounds—leaving just the cocoa butter, milk, sugar, and often a dash of vanilla flavoring. White chocolate is a source of sugar, fat, and calories—but not much that might be considered beneficial to human health.

So a general rule of thumb is that darker, bitter chocolate has more beneficial cacao content and that’s usually reflected on labels. But Sesso says that’s not the whole story.

“Just because something is marked as 80 percent cocoa, that doesn’t clarify whether or not it’s actually good for you,” he says. “Like many other foods, not just cocoa, how you process it from start to finish can have a profound impact on the nutrients or bioactives that are left in it,” he adds.

Cocoa beans can lose their beneficial compounds when they are fermented and dried, for example, and further reduced during roasting and other chocolate production processes. (Cacao more accurately refers to raw beans, while cocoa has been processed or powdered in ways that may impact its active contents, however the two terms are often used interchangeably on packaging—whether accurate or not.)

Spector adds that many of the most popular brands’ products are ultra-processed foods loaded with sugar, emulsifiers, and artificial flavors, with little beneficial cocoa. “In those cases, the negative health effects outweigh any benefits,” he says. “When you choose minimally processed chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa, you get the benefits associated with cocoa with few downsides.”

Cocoa powders and nibs

The Maya enjoyed a variety of drinks laden with cacao powder, which Sessos says is “probably a better source of getting some of the beneficial effects of the cocoa bean than chocolate.”

Don’t confuse these powders with hot cocoa mix, though. Unsweetened and bitter cocoa powders popularly used for baking contain very high amounts of cocoa—up to 100 percent. Hot cocoa mixes contain a lot less actual cocoa and large quantities of powdered milk and sugar.

Meanwhile, cocoa nibs are also a good source of the beneficial compounds found in cocoa because they are literally small bits of the cocoa bean and nothing else. Nibs, which might be mixed into granolas or smoothies, have another health bonus: They boast high amounts of fiber that help digestive health.

Ultimately, Sesso says, our collective desire to tout the health benefits of chocolate “misses the point that it’s not the chocolate that’s healthy it’s what’s in it that matters.”

“If you enjoy chocolate in moderation of course you should have it,” he adds. “But don’t necessarily eat it because you’re thinking about it in terms of its health benefits.”

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : National Geographic – https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/chocolate-health-benefits

Tags: ActuallyChocolatescience
Previous Post

The essential guide to visiting San Diego

Next Post

Discover how award-winning director Tommy Joyce films in remote locations

Charting the Global Economy: US GDP Falls on Larger Trade Hit – Bloomberg

US GDP Takes a Hit: Unpacking the Impact of Global Trade Dynamics

May 31, 2025
Mavs CEO holds firm on new arena, entertainment district in Dallas – Dallas News

Mavs CEO Stands Strong on Vision for New Arena and Entertainment District in Dallas

May 31, 2025
The #1 Snack for Better Gut Health, Recommended by a Gastroenterologist – EatingWell

Unlock Better Gut Health: Discover the Top Snack Recommended by Experts!

May 31, 2025
Hegseth Warns of ‘Devastating Consequences’ Should China Seek to ‘Conquer’ Taiwan – WSJ

Dire Warning: The Potential Fallout of China’s Ambitions to Conquer Taiwan

May 31, 2025
Drone technology demo in Cambria County showcases future of lifesaving medical deliveries – local21news.com

Revolutionizing Healthcare: Drone Technology Takes Flight for Lifesaving Medical Deliveries in Cambria County

May 31, 2025
Saturday Sports: Stanley cup final rematch, OKC Thunder in the NBA Finals – NPR

Epic Showdown: Stanley Cup Final Rematch and OKC Thunder Take on the NBA Finals!

May 31, 2025
Predicting invasion costs from sparse data – Nature

Unlocking the Secrets of Invasion Costs: Insights from Sparse Data

May 31, 2025
High school science teacher’s advice leaves lasting mark on student – MSN

How a High School Science Teacher Inspired a Lifelong Passion for Learning

May 31, 2025
RFK Jr. threatens to bar government scientists from publishing in leading medical journals – Politico

RFK Jr. Vows to Restrict Government Scientists from Publishing in Top Medical Journals

May 31, 2025
Monique Thomas gifts love with Stem & Story Studio – Jamaica Gleaner

Monique Thomas gifts love with Stem & Story Studio – Jamaica Gleaner

May 31, 2025

Categories

Archives

May 2025
MTWTFSS
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
« Apr    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (653)
  • Economy (669)
  • Entertainment (21,575)
  • General (15,252)
  • Health (9,711)
  • Lifestyle (670)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (670)
  • Politics (677)
  • Science (15,890)
  • Sports (21,173)
  • Technology (15,656)
  • World (656)

Recent News

Charting the Global Economy: US GDP Falls on Larger Trade Hit – Bloomberg

US GDP Takes a Hit: Unpacking the Impact of Global Trade Dynamics

May 31, 2025
Mavs CEO holds firm on new arena, entertainment district in Dallas – Dallas News

Mavs CEO Stands Strong on Vision for New Arena and Entertainment District in Dallas

May 31, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version