Scientists Probe Dark Chocolate's Health Secrets | WPN World People 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.

There are two kinds of microbes in the gut: the good ones and the bad ones.

The good microbes, such as Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria, feast on chocolate. When you eat dark chocolate, they grow and ferment it, producing compounds that are anti-inflammatory.

When these compounds are absorbed by the body, they lessen the inflammation of cardiovascular tissue, reducing the long-term risk of stroke.

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.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services