What common indulgence can both protect your teeth against cavities and reduce the risk of heart attacks?  Well, if you've read the title of this article you're probably guessing chocolate - and you would be right! It’s really kind of amazing that such a delicious thing can be beneficial to your health.  In fact it's almost unbelievable, healthy things are generally things that we don't crave.    But do these benefits of chocolate mean we no longer need to feel guilty when we eat chocolate?

Perhaps a few more details are needed to be convincing...   It seems that during a recent study at John Hopkins University on the effects of aspirin and heart disease, they accidentally discovered that a bit of chocolate everyday can reduce the risk of a heart attack. Chocolate, apparently, effects how platelets cause blood to clot.  The effect is similar to the benefits of an aspirin a day but, unfortunately, nowhere near as great as an aspirin a day. 

As for protecting your teeth against cavities, a study by researchers at Osaka University in Japan found that part of the cocoa bean combats mouth bacteria which in turn fights tooth decay.  In fact, this protection is so convincing that at a recent dental visit my dentist stated that small dark chocolate treats were a great way to tame sweet cravings!  But wouldn't it really be neat if we could have chocolate flavored toothpaste?

Sounds great to me, we can have some chocolate everyday.  The chocolate will protect our teeth against cavities and reduce our risk for heart attacks.  What's the catch?  Well, I don't know about you but for me the question is can I simply have one piece of chocolate a day?  I'm not sure; chocolate is a bit addictive to me.  I have a little and then I want a lot! But if you can stop at one piece then it looks like yes chocolate can be guilt free.

Comments

Add New Search

alan (Registered) 2006-11-24 11:34:48 Chocolate toothpaste? Ick! ...alan

Cocoa vs. "chocolate" Carol (Unregistered) 2006-11-27 11:13:46 Most of the studies on "chocolate" and health benefits use unsweetened cocoa or bittersweet (dark) chocolate, which differs considerably from what most people know as "chocolate" (i.e., sugar-rich chocolate bars made with milk chocolate and not much cocoa). Once the sugar is added, "chocolate" goes from a bacteria deterrent to an attractant (same as with many foods). Other foods that don't promote tooth decay are cheese and nuts -- basically anything that isn't high in refin ed carbohydrates. But then all you need to do is rinse your mouth well with water or use a tooth pick after eating carbs and you've battled plaque as much or more than by eating cocoa, cheese, etc.

Only registered users can write comments!