Risk of stroke and chocolate

 

The problem with studies on chocolate is that the press jumps on them and oversimplifies or dramatizes the messages. Then the candy manufacturers come along with their resources, further muddying the waters.

The benefits of raw cacao

It is therefore recommended to add cocoa to a smoothie, oatmeal, or other similar preparations to benefit from its positive effects. Ideally, you should choose raw cocoa, whose acidity has not been neutralized by the so-called "Dutch" process, since flavanols are what give cocoa its bitter taste. Treating cocoa with alkaline solutions is precisely intended to destroy them. Therefore, when it comes to cocoa, a bitter taste is a good sign.

Cocoa and arterial function

One study showed that consuming dark chocolate can improve the function of the heart's coronary arteries in less than two hours. This improvement was measured using a sophisticated sound angiography technique. But there are blood vessels we can see with our own eyes: the blood vessels inside our eyes. Two hours after eating dark chocolate, the tiny veins in your eyes are significantly more able to dilate.

Effects on the blood vessels of the legs

Peripheral artery disease is a form of atherosclerosis affecting the arteries that supply blood to your arms and legs. This condition causes painful cramps in the calves when you try to exercise, due to reduced blood flow. One study examined this condition by following 20 patients two hours after they consumed dark chocolate (over 85% cocoa) and milk chocolate. After eating dark chocolate, the patients were able to walk at least 11 meters farther and about 17 seconds longer than before. Conversely, after eating milk chocolate, they walked even less than they started with and not a second longer.

Regression of atherosclerosis

This study suggests that cocoa has beneficial properties. While gaining a few extra seconds isn't particularly satisfying, the more fascinating idea would be to induce a regression of atherosclerosis. This regression was considered impossible until studies in 1977 demonstrated the contrary. One of the first demonstrations of this regression was not performed on the coronary arteries of the heart, but on the femoral arteries of the legs.

Chocolate and brain

For the arteries supplying the brain, there is a non-invasive approach to measuring arterial function using transcranial ultrasound. When a person is asked to hold their breath, the brain compensates by opening the arteries to increase blood flow. However, when these arteries are stiffened by atherosclerosis, they cannot open as much or as quickly as they should, which can be a risk factor for stroke.

Researchers compared the effects of various foods on brain arterial function, but included unconventional options like a fried Mars bar in batter in their study. While this choice may seem absurd at first glance, it's important to note that local dietary habits were taken into account to observe the actual effects of the diet on overall health.

Chocolate consumption and reduced risk of stroke

Several long-term population studies have found that people who consume chocolate appear to have lower rates of stroke. This finding has been confirmed by other research. However, these studies have not always succeeded in isolating chocolate from other health-promoting behaviors, such as physical exercise, that might be associated with chocolate consumption.

Conclusion

To prove a cause-and-effect relationship between chocolate consumption and a reduced risk of stroke, a multi-decade study would be needed, dividing subjects into two groups, one eating chocolate and the other not. Obviously, conducting such a study would be extremely complex and difficult to implement.