Big surprise: chocolate is not a health food

April 17, 2008

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.


10 Comments

  1. […] 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 … […]

    Pingback by Big surprise: chocolate is not a health food | The Health Shack Blog — April 17, 2008 @ 8:51 am

  2. 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? ;).

    Comment by Mark D. — April 17, 2008 @ 8:58 am

  3. […] 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 … […]

    Pingback by Big surprise: chocolate is not a health food | Heavenly Health — April 17, 2008 @ 9:03 am

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

    Pingback by   On Health Records by Health Tips — April 17, 2008 @ 11:07 am

  5. 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?

    Comment by Daniel Ithaca,NY — April 17, 2008 @ 3:11 pm

  6. 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.

    Comment by Shari L. — April 17, 2008 @ 4:24 pm

  7. 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

    Comment by Dorene — April 17, 2008 @ 8:58 pm

  8. 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.

    Comment by missbossy — April 18, 2008 @ 4:02 am

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

    (=}

    Comment by Daniel Ithaca,NY — April 18, 2008 @ 10:55 am

  10. 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.

    Comment by missbossy — April 21, 2008 @ 10:46 pm

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