Chocolate may help reduce heart disease, study suggests

September 20, 1996
Web posted at: 10:30 a.m. EDT

DAVIS, California (CNN) -- Chocolate contains high levels of phenol, a chemical that helps reduce the risk of heart disease, according to a researcher at the University of California-Davis.

But researcher Andrew Waterhouse cautioned that his findings are preliminary and that people should not eat more candy bars thinking it will cut down on heart problems.

"A lot of people may misinterpret the results from the study and go out and buy some chocolate," Chandra Carty, a registered dietitian, told CNN. "But if they do, they may increase their risk of other problems later on. For instance, the chocolate is very, very high in calories. It's also high in fat and saturated fat."

Waterhouse wrote about his findings in the British medical journal Lancet. Through various laboratory experiments, he measured the amount of phenol in cocoa powder, baker's chocolate and milk chocolate.

He found that a 1.5-ounce piece of milk chocolate contained the same amount of phenol as a 5-ounce glass of red wine, also known for its heart benefits. Phenol is also found in coffee and some fruits and teas.

Phenol helps lower the risk of heart disease by preventing fat-like substances in the bloodstream from oxidizing and clogging the arteries.

Waterhouse's findings also showed that chocolate can contribute a significant portion of dietary antioxidants, inhibiting oxidation.

Correspondent Holly Firfer contributed to this report.

Related sites:

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• American Heart Association
• University of California - Davis
• The UK Chocolate Homepage

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