Scientifically, dark chocolate is effective against stress and inflammation

Consuming dark chocolate has a positive effect on your health

Although chocolate tastes good, regular consumption also means that we are gaining weight fast. Researchers have now discovered that chocolate can be good for your health as well. Certain types of dark chocolate have positive effects on stress, inflammation, mood, memory and immunity.

The scientists at Loma Linda University found in their current research that dark chocolate with a high concentration of cocoa can prevent stress and inflammation. The physicians published the results of their study at this year's Experimental Biology 2018 annual meeting in San Diego.

Dark chocolate contains a high proportion of cocoa. Consuming dark chocolate seems to protect people from stress and inflammation. (Image: karepa / fotolia.com)

Benefits of chocolate with lots of cocoa

Many people like to eat chocolate. Unfortunately, chocolate usually contains a lot of sugar, and regular consumption can lead to weight gain and damage your health. Apparently, there is also healthy chocolate. The researchers found in their study that eating dark chocolate with a high cocoa concentration (at least 70% cocoa, 30% raw cane sugar) has positive effects on stress, inflammation, mood, memory and immunity.

Cocoa is a major source of flavonoids

Although it is known that cocoa is a major source of flavonoids, this is the first time that the effect has been studied in human subjects to determine how this effect supports cognitive, endocrine, and cardiovascular health, explains study author Dr. Lee S. Berk from Loma Linda University in a press release.

Makes chocolate happy?

For years, the influence of dark chocolate on neurological functions has been considered from the standpoint of sugar content. The more sugar is included, the happier the consumers are, according to the results of these studies, according to Drs. Berk. Now, for the first time, the effects of large quantities of cocoa in small quantities of chocolate (chocolate bars) on humans have been studied over short and long periods of time. The results showed that the higher the cocoa concentration, the more positive the impact on cognition, memory, mood, immunity and other positive effects.

Flavonoids in cocoa are extremely powerful antioxidants

The flavonoids found in cocoa are extremely powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, with known mechanisms that are beneficial to the health of the brain and cardiovascular system, the researchers say.

Cocoa affects the signaling pathways

This experimental pilot study examined the influence of chocolate with 70 percent cocoa content on the gene expression of human immune cells and dendritic cells with a focus on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The study results show that consumption of cocoa upregulates several intracellular signaling pathways involved in the activation of T cells, the cellular immune response, and certain genes that influence neuronal signaling and sensory perception.

Brain and health benefit from dark chocolate

In this study, the response of the electroencephalogram to 48 g of dark chocolate (70% cocoa) was measured after a short period (30 min) and after a longer period (120 min) by brain frequency modulation. The results show that chocolate with 70 percent cocoa improves neuroplasticity (self-adaptation of the brain) for health-promoting behavior, the researchers report. In addition, brain performance also benefits from consumption.

Further studies are needed

Further studies are now needed, especially to determine the importance of these effects for immune cells and the brain in larger study populations. Such studies are already underway to elucidate the mechanisms that lead to a cause-and-effect relationship between chocolate consumption and brain behavior at this high cocoa concentration. (As)