Ancient healers used ground seeds from the Theobroma cacao plant to treat a wide variety of ailments. Modern researchers have shown that products containing this powder -- such as chocolate -- improve your health. Eating chocolate can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a September 2010 article in the "Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics." The mechanism underlying this effect remains unknown, but it could involve chocolate's effect on your hormones. Talk to your doctor before consuming large amounts of chocolate.
Chocolate Increases Insulin
The pancreas releases the hormone insulin to help regulate your blood sugar. People with diabetes often have low levels of insulin. This paucity affects every organ system, even your skin, according to an August 2011 review in the "Journal of Diabetes." Consuming chocolate might help you increase your insulin. An experiment described in the April 2011 issue of the "European Journal of Nutrition" tested this hypothesis in healthy men. The participants received either dark chocolate or no treatment before rigorous exercise. Relative to controls, subjects receiving chocolate had higher levels of insulin. No athlete experienced allergic reactions.
Chocolate Decreases Ghrelin
Your stomach manufactures ghrelin as a way to control your appetite. Women with menstrual problems such as amenorrhea often have elevated levels of ghrelin, according to a July 2008 report in "Fertility and Sterility." This excess could explain the health problems associated with not having a period. Chocolate might help decrease ghrelin and thus improve such cases. A study presented in the April 2010 edition of "Regulatory Peptides" explored this possibility in healthy women. The authors had the subjects eat or smell chocolate during a single testing session. Relative to controls, participants exposed to chocolate has lower levels of ghrelin. The women did not report chocolate-related side effects.
Chocolate Decreases Cortisol
The adrenal glands release cortisol in response to stress. Workers who experience chronic stress often release too much cortisol, according to a December 2010 review in "Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine." Such excess can cause sleep deprivation and memory loss. Chocolate could prove useful in such situations. An investigation offered in the December 2009 issue of the "Journal of Proteome Research" looked at the effect of chocolate in healthy adults. Participants consumed chocolate for about two weeks. Relative to baseline, this treatment reduced their cortisol and allowed them to better process food. The researchers did not observe negative reactions resulting from chocolate intake.
Chocolate Increases Dopamine
The brain manufactures dopamine to counter the reproductive effects of prolactin. It also affects many functions in the brain. Production of this hormone decreases with age, according to a September 2009 report in "Neuroscience." This decline likely explains the age-related decrease in memory. Chocolate might help prevent this decline. A study described in the July 2008 edition of the "British Journal of Nutrition" tested this hypothesis in laboratory animals. Rodents received powdered chocolate throughout their lifespan. Relative to controls, rats given cocoa extracts had higher levels of dopamine. They also performed better on memory tasks. Chocolate intake did not cause toxicity in the animals.
References
- "Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics"; Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Risk: What About Cocoa and Chocolate?; Davide Grassi, et al.; September 2010
- "Journal of Diabetes"; Dermatologic Manifestation of Diabetes; Lauren Levy and Joshua A. Zeichner; August 2011
- "European Journal of Nutrition"; Effect of Acute Pre-exercise Dark Chocolate Consumption on Plasma Antioxidant Status, Oxidative Stress and Immunoendocrine Responses to Prolonged Exercise; Glen Davison, et al.; April 2011
- "Fertility and Sterility"; Elevated Ghrelin Level in Women of Normal Weight With Amenorrhea is Related to Disordered Eating; Lisa F. Schneider, et al.; July 2008
- "Regulatory Peptides"; Appetite Suppression Through Smelling of Dark Chocolate Correlates With Changes in Ghrelin in Young Women; Elske T. Massolt, et al.; April 2010
- "Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine"; Hypercortisolism as a Potential Concern for Submariners; Seth A. Reini, et al.; December 2010
