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Chocolate is better than carrots, for more reasons than the obvious one.
Next time you board a plane, you might want to hand the pilot a chocolate bar, just in case.
That’s because a recent study found that dark chocolate might improve your ability to see in low-contrast situations, such as poor weather.
Not only that, this study adds to previous research that suggests eating chocolate can make your brain sharper. (Don’t you just love these chocolate-is-good-for-you studies? Sign me up.) You may have already heard that dark chocolate can lower your blood pressure and also appears to have a favorable effect on cholesterol levels, platelet function and insulin sensitivity.
The authors of the latest study, from England’s University of Reading, enrolled 30 men and women ages 18 to 25 and tested their vision and thinking skills a couple of hours after they ate a regular-sized chocolate bar.
They took the tests twice, once after eating a dark chocolate bar, and once after eating a white chocolate bar. The difference between the two chocolate bars was the amount of flavanols -- a natural compound in cocoa -- they contained. Of course, the dark chocolate bar contained loads of cocoa flavanols, the white chocolate bar only a trace.
Flavanols, found in high levels in grapes, green and black teas, red wine and apples as well as cocoa, have been getting a lot of good press lately as scientists study their health benefits. Ahh, a jug of red wine, a bar of dark chocolate and thou beside me.
To avoid skewing their results, the researchers fudged when they told their subjects the purpose of the study: If the volunteers knew the focus was on cocoa flavanols, they might do better after eating the dark chocolate because they figured they were supposed to. Instead, study participants thought the researchers were investigating the impact of different kinds of fats.
Turns out the study participants did perform better on the vision tests and on some of the brain function tests after eating the dark chocolate, the authors report in the June issue of Physiology & Behavior. They attribute their findings to cocoa flavanol’s known ability to increase blood flow to the brain, and they speculate that the stuff might also increase blood flow to the retina of the eye.
The good news is that other research suggests cocoa flavanol’s positive impact on blood flow is even greater in us folks over age 25. So the Reading researchers are conducting a similar study in older volunteers. This time they’ll add caffeine and theobromine to the white chocolate bars to make sure those stimulants from the cacao plant aren’t the real reason for dark chocolate’s brain and vision benefits.
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Leave a Comment:
Choc it up Americans.
Incredibly stupid. It's writers like this that have everyone confused. As least most folks are not that stupid. Sure, feed your kids chocolate or carrots for dinner.
Puleeezzzee !!!!!!!!!!!
Chocolate is still unhealthy due to the sugar and saturated fat in it. I'd stick to unsweetened pure bitter organic cocoa powder, etc. which is substantially healthier. You can easily consume it with your favorite sugar-free liquid. This will also be substantially cheaper than chocolate. I drink it with hot milk and some coffee.
Seriously, get over yourself
What is your problem? If you can't make a rational and informative statement, then save it.
You are right. Also, its the amount of cocoa flavanols that make the difference and its hard to find products that indicate how much is in them. Take a look at cocoavia.com. Mars has come up with 2 dietary supplements - not for your kids so give them the carrots! - but good for us adults to think about. Come in dark chocolate or fruit flavors and are powders that you add to water or other liquids. Perhaps these are a healthier alternative to chocolate.
As the study author, I agree with the comments that it is better to avoid the calories in chocolate if you can. Some more things to bear in mind
1. The amount of flavanol in almost all cocoa powder and dark chocolate is unknown. The manufacturers do not measure it, but it does vary a lot with the growing conditions of the cocoa plants used. Most production processes reduce the falvanol levels considerably.
2. The product I used is fairly unique in that the flavanol level is measured by the manufacturer - and they try to maximise it with their specific production process. I just bought the stuff from the supermarket - they did not sponsor my research.
3. The mechanism that caused the improvement in visual contrast sensitivity is the subject of ongoing research in my lab. Increased blood flow to the retina is one possibility. But I have now confirmed that it's the flavanol, not the caffeine or the theobromine in cocoa that does this. This was done by repeating the study with a control condition that included matched levels of caffeine and theobromine. I'll be publishing that study soon.
You know, Ms. Rubin, that was a catchy but misleading and ignorant title. What has chocolate being good for you has to do with you suggesting people skip eating carrots? Carrots have loads of nutrients and telling people to eat it instead of a very healthy food is just ridiculous.
You could have left the carrots out of it. While chocolate is wonderful for you, it does have fat and calories and in no way replaces the need for low calorie, healthy vegetables. Not trying to be a snot, but really there was no need to ditch the carrots to get a headline.
Agree with you entirely ram-762581. Ms Rubin, I suggest you consult actual nutrition sources rather than following research trying to figure out how to chemically manipulate the brain. As far as carrots are concerned, a mere tablespoon of cooked carrots provides over 1600 IUs of Vitamin A, and entire 100 gram dark chocolate candy bar (at 600 calories) even with the highest amount of cacao solids offers less than 40 IUs. At the very highest, the chocolate can only provide half of the other nutrients available in carrots, unfortunately even that measly amount of nutrients comes combined with sugar, fat and calories that offset any benefits. Ditch the carrots? I don't think so.
I started eating dark chocolate several years ago, because I heard that dark chocolate is helpful in the reduction of heart attacks.
You're not supposed to eat a pack of dark M & Ms every day. Four ounces is appropriate. Go to the "large-size" candy aisle. I get the "Royal Dark," in the dark blue package, and cut off sections. I also like to keep it in the fridge and drink Cold water between bites. Maybe I do that because it stretches the "sweet treat" time.;-)
M&Ms are not appropriate at all.
Oh great, another excuse to eat unhealthy foods.
I bet this study was secretly funded by Nestle, Hershey's, Hostess, Mars Inc. and Nabisco.
Let's pick nits with the title but none about the fact that white chocolate isn't even chocolate. Why didn't the study use milk chocolate—at least compare similar things? Why didn't it use carrots?
As for promoting unhealthy foods, dark chocolate has all kinds of health benefits. And an ounce a day is good for your mood, too.
Just skip the donuts and the other candies.
OLD NEWS
Natural compounds in cocoa and dark chocolate may aid the cardiovascular system by improving blood flow and reducing blood pressure.Scientists have also discovered that cocoa may help maintain healthy arteries.
Yale University Associate Professor Dr. David Katz recently tested the blood pressure of 45 adults before and after eating dark chocolate. The results were impressive: just two hours after eating dark chocolate the subjects' blood pressure dropped and their blood flow improved. "This clearly suggests that dark chocolate isn't just good; it's good for you," Dr. Katz said of his 2005 study, one of more than the 20 conducted in the past decade on the health value of cocoa and chocolate.
Finally some good news in nutrition... :)
Great, yet another justification for people to stuff their faces with junk food.
"But chocolates good for my eyes!" *Stuffs another candy bar into mouth.*
Finally, a study I can get behind! Give me a call if you need further testing!
as I sit here eating my Ghiradelli dark chocolate and mint and dark chocolate and raspberry squares and read this article and the comments, I come to the sad but unavoidable conclusion that some people just need to lighten up. I maintain a supply of these goodies in my office, and my co-workers know they are there. As they feel the need, they come in, have a square, and chat about their problems. A few minutes savoring some chocolate and talking out the mountains and molehills that make up the work day seem to have a very beneficial effect on folks. Their feeling of stress eases back some, the pressure of multitasking, the need to work out everything on their own, all seem to lift some. They are happier, they smile, and maybe they even laugh a little. And that, my Nana told me, is the best way to good health.
Yes, we need to eat our carrots. We need to eat our grapes and other healthy fruits and vegetables. But we needn't be monastic about it (really, bitter cocoa mixed with some undefined unsweetened liquid? Really? Remind me to not stop by your office some hectic afternoon for a break...). Everyone relax. Take deep breathes. Exhale slowly. Remind yourself...its just an article on MSNBC.
Well stated Tim
You're misquoting me, and also abusing the science.
The candy you eat is hardly "dark enough" -- it has a lower beneficial value relative to purer cocoa powder. It's the natural bitterness of the powder that is an estimator of its healthiness.
I never said "unsweetened liquid". You made that up. One can always consider using natural alternative sweeteners, e.g. stevia, etc. I said "unsweetened powder", because the sweetened one is far less likely to have pure cocoa in the first place.
Regular consumption of most chocolates will just give people dental carries, make them fatter, and up their risk for diabetes.
Love carrots and dark chocolate; eat both regularly....and still blind as a bat.
LOL! I love them both too, but only eat the carrots on a regular basis. Chocolate is a once in a blue moon treat due to the fact that I am not one of those people who can eat anything and not gain weght, despite regular exercise. I guess one square of dark choclate a day wouldn't hurt me though. By the way, I also can't see a thing without my glasses!
I hope everyone knows this is real chocolate, which is high in anti-oxidents, and how many will use this as an excuse to eat Milk Chocolate?
I work all day snacking on dark chocolate M&Ms. Now I finally understand that this is a natural instinct that makes me healthier and sharper. I can finally put all that guilt aside.
The old adage is true; if it tastes terrible it must be good for you. Ugh!! Why does it have to be DARK chocolate...I'll stick with red grapes thank you (if only they were in season all the time :( )
If you're going to eat chocolate, please eat raw cacao powder or nibs. It's true that it is very good for you, but adding to it with sugar and milk and whatever other preservatives may go into chocolate can lead to other health problems. Don't let the propaganda of such articles make you feel secure with your poor eating habits.
Its great telling people stuff they want to hear: Just like wine was supposed to be good for your heart (not really--say recent studies). The fat in chocolate is bad for you. I suppose there may be some benefit (other than enjoyment), but its probably like all the energy drinks: A bump in caffeine is an easy and temporary way to improve mental and physical performance. However, like nicotine, there is a long term cost you will pay.
It's funny, but chocolate has a negative effect on my wife's eyesight, every time I giver her chocolate, she thinks it makes me more attractive.
Good one Ken
I should be able to see in the dark by now!
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If they're aware that caffeine might be a factor in this brain function test (white chocolate having none or trace amounts, dark chocolate having quite a bit more)... uh... perhaps these findings are totally premature until they redo the study factoring in caffeine. I think every coffee drinker out there will vouch for the fact that caffeine makes your little brain cells buzz... for a while at least... until you crash land. What a lame study -- it totally invalidates itself at the end of the article.
And I agree with others... the headline is misleading. You skipped over that whole bothersome journalistic integrity nonsense so you could write a headline that was "cute".
No. Chocolate has a negligible amount of caffeine -- just a few milligrams. It is not even worth considering at all. It's you who invalidates yourself.
In contrast, the more substantial theobromine content might matter, but so what if it does.
AB-1981 - You remind me of (and sound like) Dr. Doofenshmirtz on the children's show Phineas & Ferb. Not the evil part, but he's never happy, always contemplating what he can say or do to make people miserable and never ceasing to devise ways to ruin everyone's fun! Loosen up & enjoy life a little, huh?! This coming from a pretty serious person!
Truth is the only fun I know.
Well Rita. You've made my day!