(HealthDay News) — It’s said that dark chocolate can be good for your heart, and new research may have uncovered why.
Louisiana State University researchers tested cocoa powders in a model of the digestive tract and found that certain bacteria in the stomach eat dark chocolate, ferment it and then release anti-inflammatory compounds that benefit the heart.
The study was scheduled for presentation Tuesday at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in Dallas.
Finley said he believes this is the first study to examine dark chocolate’s effects on different types of stomach bacteria.
The researchers also found evidence that people could gain even greater health benefits if they eat dark chocolate with solid fruits such as pomegranates and acai.
Data and conclusions presented at meetings typically are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.
SOURCE: American Chemical Society, news release, March 18, 2014
