Dark Chocolate Shows Effects Similar to Aspirin

As reported by Johns Hopkins Medicine, recent research led to what is believed to be the first biochemical analysis to explain why just a few squares of chocolate a day can almost halve the risk of heart attack death in some men and women by decreasing the tendency of platelets to clot in narrow blood vessels.

The chemical in cocoa beans has a biochemical effect similar to aspirin in reducing platelet clumping, which can be fatal if a clot forms and blocks a blood vessel, causing a heart attack, says Diane Becker, M.P.H., Sc.D., professor, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Becker cautions that her work is not intended as a prescription to gobble up large amounts of chocolate candy, which often contains large amounts of sugar, butter and cream. As little as 2 tablespoons a day of dark chocolate may be just what the doctor ordered.

Researchers have known for nearly two decades that dark chocolate, rich in chemicals called flavonoids, lowers blood pressure and has other beneficial effects on blood flow. These recent findings, as presented Nov. 14 at the American Heart Association annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago, identified the effect of normal, everyday doses of chocolate found in ordinary foods, unlike previous studies that found decreased platelet activity only at impractically high doses of flavonoids equivalent to eating several pounds of chocolate a day.

These results really bring home the point that a modest dietary practice can have a huge impact on blood and potentially on the health of people at a mildly elevated risk of heart disease, says study coauthor Dr. Nauder Faraday, associate professor, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health. But we have to careful to emphasize that one single healthy dietary practice cannot be taken alone, but must be balanced with exercise and other healthy lifestyle practices that impact the heart.

For the complete press release, see http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2006/11_14a_06.html.