August 13, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 13 Dark chocolate can be a healthy option Many people associate healthy eating with foods that may not be so tasty. While desserts are not often considered the health- iest course of a meal, dark chocolate, when enjoyed in moderation, can be healthy. Dark chocolate can benefit the brain, heart, and teeth. Researchers at a meeting of the Ameri- can Chemical Society in Dallas have dis- covered just why dark chocolate packs such a healthy punch. Otherwise indigestible portions of the chocolate are converted by microbes in the digestive system. In turn, the chocolate is transformed into anti- inflammatory compounds. Researchers found that digestion in the stomach produces long molecules called polyphenolic polymers. These molecules are too large to cross the walls of the stom- ach to be used nutritionally. However, when the polyphenolic polymers meet lactic acid and microbes that inhabit the human colon, the polymers ferment and can be broken down further. These smaller molecules are then used by the body. The resulting mate- rial is anti-inflammatory and can prevent certain conditions, including cardiovascu- lar disease, from developing. One of the pitfalls of dark chocolate is the sugar and fat content of a candy bar, which can overshadow the health benefits. However, those who consume the major- ity of their dark chocolate in the form of unsweetened cocoa powder can avoid such consequences. Roughly two tablespoons of cocoa powder per day can produce the desired anti-inflammatory benefits, and cocoa powder can be mixed into drinks, sprinkled over oatmeal, and consumed in many other ways. Full-sugar, full-fat dark chocolate bars and pieces should be enjoyed sparingly, although they are better for health than milk chocolate or white chocolate. Interest in dark chocolate for its medi- cal benefits has led researchers to study the efficacy of its anti-inflammatory com- pounds. A big study is already underway to see if pills containing the nutrients in dark chocolate can replicate its many health benefits, including helping to prevent heart attack and stroke. The pills are so concen- trated they would be the equivalent of eating numerous dark chocolate bars, but without the negative side effects. The goal of the study is to see if chocolate can provide sig- nificant medical benefits without forcing consumers to eat so much sugar and fat. The study will be sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the candy company Mars Inc. The candy man- ufacturer patented a way to extract flavo- nols from cocoa in high concentration and put them in capsules. Mars and some other companies sell cocoa extract capsules, but with less active ingredients than those that will be tested in the study. Some partici- pants will get flavorless, coated pills that contain the cocoa flavonols, while others will be given a placebo. Eighteen thousand men and women nationwide are expected to participate. In addition to anti-inflammatory proper- ties, dark chocolate contains several chemi- cal compounds that have a positive effect on mood and cognitive health. Chocolate con- tains phenylethylamine, or PEA, the same chemical the brain creates when people fall in love. Taking dark chocolate supplements may help a person’s mind and body.