27 replies to this topic

[Dmitri]

I receive a monthly health magazine (Wellbella) and the current issue had a study on chocolate and it's benefits. According to the article Harvard University and Sweden's Institute of Environmental Medicine completed a 9 year study on the eating habits of 32,000 women. In the study women who ate chocolate 2/3 oz to 1 oz once or twice a week showed 32% lower risk in heart failure, while those who had 1 to 3 servings per month showed a 26% lower risk. However, the women who ate chocolate every day showed no effect.The problem with the article is that it doesn't mention if they were consuming dark chocolate or regular chocolate, but then the article in the end recommends eating fair trade organic dark chocolate with the most cocoa percentage, but it doesn't specify how often it should be eaten. Therefore, have there been any long term studies on Dark Chocolate and how often it should be consumed considering the article I mentioned above wasn't clear enough in it's presentation?

[The Immortalist]

I receive a monthly health magazine (Wellbella) and the current issue had a study on chocolate and it's benefits. According to the article Harvard University and Sweden's Institute of Environmental Medicine completed a 9 year study on the eating habits of 32,000 women. In the study women who ate chocolate 2/3 oz to 1 oz once or twice a week showed 32% lower risk in heart failure, while those who had 1 to 3 servings per month showed a 26% lower risk. However, the women who ate chocolate every day showed no effect.The problem with the article is that it doesn't mention if they were consuming dark chocolate or regular chocolate, but then the article in the end recommends eating fair trade organic dark chocolate with the most cocoa percentage, but it doesn't specify how often it should be eaten. Therefore, have there been any long term studies on Dark Chocolate and how often it should be consumed considering the article I mentioned above wasn't clear enough in it's presentation?

I eat bakers chocolate. It has no sugar and it's mostly just solidified coaco butter. It's really nasty stuff but it's palatable if you melt it and mix it in a shake or something. The nutrition facts say's it has 40% RDI of iron per 30g square.

[Hebbeh]

The study sounds severely flawed. 1-3 servings per month is highly doubtful of any beneficial substance to have an effect...especially 26%. It doesn't sound like they differentiated what type of chocolate the women ate....more than likely most ate milk chocolate which we know has no effect. My take is that the women who ate chocolate every day (think candy bar from the vending machine) were eating a crappier diet in general and probably, as such, had a crappier life style. While the women that only splurged on a 'candy bar' on occasion probably in general ate a little healthier and maintained a healthier weight. Sounds like the study depended on self reporting which is notoriously inaccurate and didn't allow for any other factors such as type of chocolate, dietary habits, lifestyle, BMI, exercise, etc, etc. My take...just another poorly done and worthless study. However, I eat dark chocolate every day and after sucking on some dark chocolate, I always noticed the veins in my arms literally popping out for awhile. (I body build and maintain a low fat % (typically < 8-9%) and dark chocolate does make my veins large and 'popping out' for an hour or two after eating some and I've been eating dark chocolate for probably 5 years or so). From my experience, eating dark chocolate every day (actually couple times per day) keeps my veins and arteries flexible and dilated. And I'll be 54 in a week...for what that’s worth..

[Sillewater]

I've been rethinking chocolate consumption (but I love it still) since reading about possible relationship between chocolate and Parkinson's. There is stuff in chocolate, e.g. isoquinolone and other (1), that is neurotoxic but it is also found in many other foods that have no recorded association as far as I can find. The relationship in the end may be reverse causation, Parkinsonians are more likely to eat chocolate (2,3).

References

1. Neurochem Int. 2010 Nov;57(6):637-46. Epub 2010 Aug 4.2-Phenylethylamine, a constituent of chocolate and wine, causes mitochondrial complex-I inhibition, generation of hydroxyl radicals and depletion of striatal biogenic amines leading to psycho-motor dysfunctions in Balb/c mice.Sengupta T, Mohanakumar KP.
2. J Neurol. 2009 Mar;256(3):488-92. Epub 2009 Mar 13.Chocolate consumption is increased in Parkinson's disease. Results from a self-questionnaire study.Wolz M, Kaminsky A, Löhle M, Koch R, Storch A, Reichmann H.
3. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2006 Mar;77(3):317-21.Relationship between impulsive sensation seeking traits, smoking, alcohol and caffeine intake, and Parkinson's disease.Evans AH, Lawrence AD, Potts J, MacGregor L, Katzenschlager R, Shaw K, Zijlmans J, Lees AJ.

[Minni]

Chocolate has different strokes for different folks.

With me, because I've prematurely VIRTUALLY aged long ago, I find it helps vs. constipation.
But it also tends to cause me acute nerve pain, headaches & pimples.
Also it tends to cause me spasms in my ankle & arch (very painful)

So I've learned to walk a tight rope throughout the day:
Sometimes taking chocolate to eject food which otherwise bloats like a lump inside me,
and also taking coffee (balanced with creamer and/or molasses) for headaches,
and balancing that with hot baths to relax/open my vessels.

Believe it or not, cinnamon & horseradish & coffee also cause me spasms in my arch.
The question is, what chemical do these have in common, which causes this?

I'm wondering if there's some sort of astringent/constricting element to all of these substances which cause that for me.

Edited by Minni, 18 May 2011 - 07:02 PM.

[wolfeye]

Cocoa Intake, Blood Pressure, and Cardiovascular Mortality

Background: Small, short-term, intervention studies indicate that cocoa-containing foods improve endothelial function and reduce blood pressure. We studied whether habitual cocoa intake was cross-sectionally related to blood pressure and prospectively related with cardiovascular mortality.

Methods: Data used were of 470 elderly men participating in the Zutphen Elderly Study and free of chronic diseases at baseline. Blood pressure was measured at baseline and 5 years later, and causes of death were ascertained during 15 years of follow-up. Habitual food consumption was assessed by the cross-check dietary history method in 1985, 1990, and 1995. Cocoa intake was estimated from the consumption of cocoa-containing foods.

Results: One third of the men did not use cocoa at baseline. The median cocoa intake among users was 2.11 g/d. After adjustment, the mean systolic blood pressure in the highest tertile of cocoa intake was 3.7 mm Hg lower (95% confidence interval [CI], –7.1 to –0.3 mm Hg; P = .03 for trend) and the mean diastolic blood pressure was 2.1 mm Hg lower (95% CI, –4.0 to –0.2 mm Hg; P = .03 for trend) compared with the lowest tertile. During follow-up, 314 men died, 152 of cardiovascular diseases. Compared with the lowest tertile of cocoa intake, the adjusted relative risk for men in the highest tertile was 0.50 (95% CI, 0.32-0.78; P = .004 for trend) for cardiovascular mortality and 0.53 (95% CI, 0.39-0.72; P < .001) for all-cause mortality.

Conclusion: In a cohort of elderly men, cocoa intake is inversely associated with blood pressure and 15-year cardiovascular and all-cause mortality.

http://archinte.ama-...166/4/411<br />

[fiftyyy]

I've recently started eating dark chocolate on almost daily basis. Any long term users with input if its ok long term?

[Dorian Grey]

Chocolate therapy seemed to work well for old Jeanne Calment, worlds longest lived person (122 years, 164 days)...

 

https://en.wikipedia.../Jeanne_Calment

 

"Calment ascribed her longevity and relatively youthful appearance for her age to a diet rich in olive oil^[8] (which she also rubbed onto her skin)], and ate nearly one kilogram (2.2 lb) of chocolate every week."

Edited by synesthesia, 29 October 2016 - 03:50 PM.

[joelcairo]

I've gotta increase my dosage. I have some dark chocolate every day, but a kilo a week is quite a lot. That would be one and a half 100 gram bars every day.

[William Sterog]

I've recently started eating dark chocolate on almost daily basis. Any long term users with input if its ok long term?

 

I've been taking raw cacao daily for almost three years and, before that, 90% and 99% dark chocolate from Lindt another couple of years. I've never find any issues related with its consumption, I've been off sometimes for being out of stock or being traveling and I didn't find a difference. And no, I'm not fat.

Edited by William Sterog, 30 October 2016 - 05:57 AM.

[VP.]

I've been taking Cocao via capsules for the last two years with no ill effect. Concentrated flavanols in a pill by the Mars corporation.   

 

http://www.npr.org/s...t-boosts-health

 

http://www.bloomberg...olate-in-a-pill

 

 

[fiftyyy]

I've recently started eating dark chocolate on almost daily basis. Any long term users with input if its ok long term?

 
I've been taking raw cacao daily for almost three years and, before that, 90% and 99% dark chocolate from Lindt another couple of years. I've never find any issues related with its consumption, I've been off sometimes for being out of stock or being traveling and I didn't find a difference. And no, I'm not fat.

Im munching on those Lindt Excellence services, either 48% or 85%. I just had a weird 3 day span when i barely ate anything and barely slept at all. I was on lindt, soda (coke) and cigs (hwich i've heard amplify the effects of dark chocolate). Generally cognition felt great, except for he fact i couldnt focus on anything. Im worried about potential toxicity from substances like copper and PEA in chocolate. I'm also taking an eye formula with copper in it, but unfortunately local labs dont offer copper tests and i cant get blood work done. Other minerals (such magnesium, calcium, iron, are just fine). I found this article and at the time i had like good amount of the following symptoms.
 

Symptoms of High (Excess) Copper

Feelings of doom
Fatigue and exhaustion
Hypothyroid (slow thyroid)
Mind is in a fog
Headaches, migraines
Mood swings
Supersensitive, weepy
Cold hands, and/or feet
Depression
Dry skin
Chocolate cravings
Feeling of loss of control
Paranoia
Despair, suicidal feelings, hopelessness
Arthritis, calcium spurs
Constipation
Racing heart, pounding heart
Adverse reaction to vitamins and minerals
Problems with concentration and memory[/b]
Short attention span, ‘spaciness’
Eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, overeating
Panic attacks, high anxiety, free floating anxiety
Yeast infections (candida)
Aching muscles or muscle cramps
Hypoglycemia
Mind races -- insomnia, interrupted sleep
PMS
Mononucleosis
Low blood pressure
Obsessive thoughts

http://nutritionalba...er-toxicity.php
I bolded the ones i experienced, any chances that i got excess copper? There's 2mg copper in the eye formula im currently taking, dark chocolate is also rich in copper, which leads me to the conclusion i have excess copper, but cant verify it atm.

Edited by fiftyyy, 30 October 2016 - 08:20 PM.

[RWhigham]

No one has mentioned that chocolate from South America is generally high in cadmium. So is the chocolate from Madagascar. The chocolate plant concentrates cadmium if it's present in the soil. The chocolate lowest in cadmium is from the west coast of Africa. It would be interesting to know where Jean Calumet's chocolate came from. Probably not from South America or Madagascar. Chocolate from Central America has less cadmium, but not as little as chocolate from west Africa.

 

Some of the largest chocolate producers (Hershey's) mix chocolate sources to get their cadmium content just under the US limit (but not under the California limit). I believe the US cadmium limit is ok for occasional consumption of a chocolate bar - but not for daily consumption.

 

I drink a daily cup of cocoa after lunch made from Gold Coast unsweetened chocolate which I sweeten with 1/2 tsp of glycine and a dash of heavy cream.

 

I also snack on an occasional square or two of 85% dark "Divine" Chocolate from west Africa. This has a very rich flavor which makes other 85% cocoa bars taste weak. 

 

Both the above are very low in cadmium, and neither are the Dutch Process (which is treating the chocolate with alkali to make it taste less bitter, but destroying much of its ingredients).

 

I started on chocolate as a source of dietary copper after I eliminated copper from my vitamin supplements.

(Thanks to a heads up from Niner. Thank you Niner).

 

My dietary copper was originally smoked oysters in olive oil (from the southern coast of Korea) but I worried about industrial pollution and Japanese nuclear waste along the Korean coast and switched to chocolate. I still allow my cat to have one smoked oyster daily since he can't eat chocolate.

Edited by RWhigham, 31 October 2016 - 01:35 AM.

[joelcairo]

It's not surprising that a 3-day jag of no sleep fueled with chocolate, cola and cigarettes could result in some serious symptoms. Personally I don't think the chocolate is what's wrong with that potentially fatal mix.

 

As for cadmium, I don't worry about it too much. I'm looking at one survey of foods that shows it has maybe 3X-4X the cadmium by weight of wheat and other grains. Nobody thinks twice about eating a big plate of pasta, or at least they don't think twice about the cadmium content anyway.

 

Also the phytonutrients in chocolate can act as mild chelating agents. Catechins in green tea have been demonstrated to chelate cadmium, and I wouldn't be surprised if the same was true for chocolate. This may even relate to why cadmium accumulates in cocoa in the first place. Anyway, in the absence of human studies showing that relatively small proportions of chocolate in the diet can have deleterious effects, I'm not planning on cutting back from the 400g or so I consume weekly. Such studies may exist, BTW, but I am not aware of them.

Edited by joelcairo, 31 October 2016 - 04:52 AM.

[fiftyyy]

After reading a bit about copper on longecity, last night i took a Zinc supplement and i can definitely feel relief in symptoms and also regained my ability to fall asleep/feel tired more easily. The eye formula is going straight in the trash bin. Gonna be monitoring myself in the next following days. Thanks for the input guys, some really valuable information right here.

Edited by fiftyyy, 31 October 2016 - 06:54 AM.

[Astreon]

I would love to have a definite answer. I love the Lindt 99% cocoa dark chocolate bar and I have a hot cocoa without sugar every day. I am getting a bit concerned with what I read about the heavy metals such as cadmium.

 

Maybe the good polyphenols in cocoa make dark chocolate a healthy beverage as a whole long term?

 

 

[normalizing]

cocoa is associated with a lot of heavy metals in the final products on studies i read in the past that ill look for again as specific countries have more or less heavy metal exposures.

but that aside, iron is always super high in chocolate anyway, dont matter the origin. and since i was eating a lot of it and had really high results for iron and inflammation, not sure how related this can be but its something to keep in mind for

[shifter]

The iron content in chocolate also bothers me. Everything in moderation I guess is the key. But there are a few tricks if you love it everyday,

 

Donate blood to deplete the iron stores once in a while

Offset eating chocolate by not eating other iron containing foods you would normally eat such as red meats.

Take a calcium supplement or calcium containing food with it

Take an IP6 supplement at the same time.

 

[normalizing]

iron is not just present in meats. its present in a lot of foods if you check table on it. the biggest problem is, fortification in bread and various wheat based products including spaghetti and various pastas plus deserts. you might end up consuming more iron from various vegetarian sources at the end rather than meat

[fntms]

You can also drink coffee or tea with your cocoa, they will chelate some of the iron.

[Skyguy2005]

Two words: Jeanne Calment

[normalizing]

skyguy, a lot of people mention her here and i dont get it, so she ate a lot of chocolate and so did millions of others centuries past, how come chocolate consumption is linked to longevity based on 1 person out of million?

[elfanjo]

Chocolate therapy seemed to work well for old Jeanne Calment, worlds longest lived person (122 years, 164 days)...

https://en.wikipedia.../Jeanne_Calment

"Calment ascribed her longevity and relatively youthful appearance for her age to a diet rich in olive oil^[8] (which she also rubbed onto her skin)], and ate nearly one kilogram (2.2 lb) of chocolate every week."

She was also a smoker...

[joelcairo]

It's not really based on one person. There are lots of studies suggesting that cocoa has cardioprotective and anticancer properties, and even extends brainspan and lifespan in various animal species.

[normalizing]

well, depends which animals, worms and flies and maybe rats, or cats and dogs, to which its toxic?

 

kind of interesting, our most welcomed animal buddies, the cats and dogs, both have toxic tendencies towards chocolate yet crap like rats and flies benefit from it. something to think about!

[Mind]

Yet another long-term study showing somewhat high heavy metal concentration in most commercial chocolate products - and it does not matter if it is organic, free-trade, non-gmo, natural, or whatever label it comes with (for the multiple brands in this study).

 

I have known about this for many years now but I can't break my chocolate habit. Yes, dark chocolate has been shown to have moderate health benefits in several studies over the course of decades, but it might not be enough to counterbalance the rising heavy metal levels. I do take supplements with IP6 so hopefully that removes some of the heavy metals.

 

Apparently, the cocoa plant absorbs more metal from the environment/ground that other plants, relatively speaking, but the problem of heavy metal pollution is growing around the world due to atmospheric deposition. The most pollution by far comes from China and spreads around the world and this source keeps rising year after year. Previous interviews I did with Labdoor highlighted this problem and there is little that can be done except post-processing of food to try and remove the metals.

[radagasus]

is it really 100% certain jeanne calment lived that long?

 

 

[Zameen Locator]

Eating dark chocolate daily can be beneficial in moderation. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants like flavonoids, which may contribute to heart health by improving blood flow and lowering blood pressure. It also has potential benefits for brain function and mood due to its content of caffeine and theobromine.