Question
The annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science last month confirmed chocolate has medicinal value. Cocoa and chocolate contain compounds that protect the heart, according to the AAAS.
Matched molecule for molecule chocolates flavanoids are more powerful than vitamins such as ascorbic acid in limiting oxidation of cholesterol circulating in low-density lipoproteins. Oxidation seems to be an essential component of plaque formation in blood vessels. The mature cocoa bean contains pairs known as dimers, triads and quarters known as tetramers. Test tube studies by German scientists show these were top performers in stopping oxidation and free-radical damage. Chocolates tetramers and larger pro-cyanidens relax the inner surface of blood vessels, according to Tissa Kappogado, a scientist at University of California Davis school of medicine. This relaxation is a major player in vascular health.
Chocolates also have procyanidins that dampen the activity of enzymes that trigger inflammation and ratchet up production of nitric oxide, suggesting they may have anti-arthritic value. Such inflammation can foster a dangerous rupturing of atheroschlerotic plaque.
Nutritionist Carl Freen at UCLA Davis suggests that chocolates procyanidins work like especially mild aspirins by dampening the reactivity of blood platelets, preventing clots and stroke. When stimulated by any number of chemical triggers, these cells turn sticky, inducing blood to clot. These clots are responsible for both strokes and blockages of blood flow to the heart.
Medicinal use of chocolate and cocoa date back at least a thousand years. A typical 40-gram serving of milk chocolate typically contains around 400 miligrams of antioxidents. Nobody should feel guilty about eating it.
Most of this I extracted from an excellent article in Science News, Vol. 157 based on research by Janet Raloff.
[This message has been edited by newyorktwo (edited March 22, 2000).]
Answer
Whooo Boy!
Now ya went and did it! Just wait til Kathy sees this!
I wouldn't want to be the poor soul standing between her and the candy counter now!
You've just made her a very happy girl!
But on the serious side.......
We've all heard how chocolate is a comfort food. Can you detail exactly how it is that chocolate actually elevates one's mood?
BTW NY2, can you take a look at Rikki's post on fibroids? I have searched and searched and cannot find anything about fatty or fibroid type tumors following thoracic surgery, but I know of more than one person who has experienced this. Your access to research data is much more extensive than mine.
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Nurse Red
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