Is Chocolate a Health Food Imposter?
By Dr. Madelyn Fernstrom Last Friday’s Wall Street Journal reported the anticipated approval in Europe for a special “super-chocolate” that carries a new label for improving heart health. This claim is based on decades of research on cocoa beans, and their documented biological effects in animals and humans showing a relaxation of blood vessels that translates into increased (and easier) blood flow. These actions can lead to a healthier cardiovascular system. A decision in Europe is expected early next year. Spoiler alert: your typical candy bar does NOT qualify for this label. Here’s why — most of the active ingredients in cocoa, the heart-healthy flavanols (antioxidants), are lost during processing. While dark chocolate does have more antioxidants than milk chocolate (and white chocolate, which is not even chocolate, has none), studies show you need to consume about a quarter of a pound a day (around 500 calories) for several weeks to lower blood pressure. So, a square or ...