Apr 17 2008

Big surprise: chocolate is not a health food

Oh dear. Chocolate is heavily hyped as a health food these days, but a new study says it doesn’t do much when compared to a placebo and has no measurable benefits for neuropsychological or heart health. Too bad. I haven’t seen the full study yet but I’ll bet it wasn’t sponsored by Mars. No matter. I’ll take chocolate over a placebo any time.

Here’s one explanation for these results: the flavonols are destroyed in the process of making cocoa.   So just because a chocolate is high in cocoa, doesn’t mean it retains active components.

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[...] Catron wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptChocolate is heavily hyped as a health food these days, but a new study says it doesn’t do much when compared to a placebo and has no measurable benefits for neuropsychological or heart health. Too bad. I haven’t seen the full study yet … [...]

I’m with you Marion… chocolate over a placebo anyday. But, that was even before all the ‘hype’ about health benefits — I will just stick with the immediate euphoria that chocolate can create — mental health is half of the physical health anyway.

Then again, maybe those chocolate covered almonds are actually chocolate covered placebos? ;) .

[...] Catron wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptChocolate is heavily hyped as a health food these days, but a new study says it doesn’t do much when compared to a placebo and has no measurable benefits for neuropsychological or heart health. Too bad. I haven’t seen the full study yet … [...]

[...] Big surprise: chocolate is not a health food [...]

  • Daniel Ithaca,NY
  • April 17, 2008
  • 3:11 pm

I don’t see in the abstract what exactly was used as “dark chocolate”. Nestle, Hershey and others pass off chocolate with added milk and/or milk fat in even their “gourmet,” “dark” chocolate. Would the added dairy/saturated fat affect the results if this was the type used?

  • Shari L.
  • April 17, 2008
  • 4:24 pm

Don’t care. I’m still going to have me a few of those wonderful, organic, fair trade, dark squares every day. I love the one with the animals on the label, particularly the ones with the nibs and the ones with the espresso beans.

For a real treat, shave some chocolate bit over some small farm dairy ice cream (NY Ronnybrook) w/homemade whipped cream. Amazing.

  • Dorene
  • April 17, 2008
  • 8:58 pm

I want to know what the placebo was — it couldn’t have been very good as the study said that half the participants knew whether they had real chocolate or placbo.

Regardless, I want to be part of the next study — especially if I get the bar of dark chocolate! :-D

  • missbossy
  • April 18, 2008
  • 4:02 am

The point is that chocolate has always been the ultimate placebo and saying so just spoils the party. What buzz kills. I’m going to forget I read this.

Choose dark chocolate and just enjoy a little of this beautiful food!

(=}

  • missbossy
  • April 21, 2008
  • 10:46 pm

Update:
It IS good for you. The Mars company has proven it.

Chocolate Lowers cholesterol:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080421114616.htm

The study, funded in part by Mars Inc., the company that makes the bars, was published in this month’s Journal of Nutrition.

I’m a fan of dark chocolate. The chocolate needs to be cold-processed to retain all of it’s anti-oxidant-goodness.

A friend of mine sells “healthy” chocolate that is Awesome!

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