Research shows a little bit of chocolate may do heart good

A little bit of what you fancy is good for you - especially if it is chocolate, according to new research.

Chocolate products with a high cocoa content are rich in a group of compounds which are thought to be good for your heart.

A session on the healthy side of eating chocolate at the American Association meeting in Washington DC attracted a near forest of television cameras as the media chased an apparent good news story - eating chocolate might be good for you.

Chocolate has been eaten since the time of the ancient Mayan and Aztec civilisations for medicinal reasons, explained Prof Louis Grivetti of the University of California-Davis.

It was used to help people gain weight and stave off TB, to help soothe and calm, to improve digestion and also to hide the taste of unpalatable medicines, he said.

The compounds of interest in chocolate are known as flavonoids, substances which are also found in tea and wine, explained Dr Harold Schmitz, of chocolate manufacturer Mars Inc.

Flavonoids have "potential cardiovascular health benefits", he said.

They have anti-oxidant, and possible anti-inflammatory properties. Flavonoids were potentially good for the heart in several ways, according to Prof C. Tissa Kappogoda of the University of California-Davis. The compounds were shown during in vitro experiments to relax the blood vessels, an action which could lower blood pressure.

Prof Karl Keen, also of UCDavis, described his own work which involved tests involving people who drank a beverage made of water, sugar and a tablespoon of cocoa powder.

The research specifically looked at how the cocoa drink reduced the clotting response in the blood.

The effect was similar to taking a half-tablet of aspirin to reduce the risk of blood clots, which could lead to heart attacks and strokes.

"Our data would suggest that chocolate can be part of a healthy diet, much like other flavonoid-rich foods," Prof Keen said. The researchers acknowledged that many of the studies had been co-funded by the Mars company, but all had submitted their work for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

At another session of the association's meeting it was demonstrated that new forms of mathematics are helping to create remarkable new images on our movie screens. Powerful forms of mathematics also underlie everyday life and events but because the mathematics can't be seen by the general public, its importance is ignored.