Is this exciting news for children and adults suffering from type 2 diabetes? A new hot cocoa contains special flavanols that actually improve blood flow in type 2 diabetics. Hey mom, chocolate really is good for you. It seems that Mars Incorporated is doing more than making chocolate bars lately. They have created their own scientific division called Symbioscience. Symbioscience joined forces with some researchers in Germany to study the effects of flavanols on vascular function.

This is the first study of this type but probably not the last because of the positive results. Flavanols are natural compounds found in some vegetables, fruits, and dark chocolate. Flavanols improve blood flow. They seem to cause the arteries to relax, probably by increasing the production of nitric oxide. Not only does the dark chocolate increase blood flow, but it also makes a person feel better. Dark chocolate causes an increase in endorphins that are released into the brain. Endorphins are chemicals that make a person feel good. They are also released during strenuous exercise and in love.

The study involved 41 participants with type 2 diabetes. They were divided into two groups. One group drank cocoa containing 321 milligrams of flavanols in a serving, three times a day, for 30 days. The other group drank cocoa containing only 25 milligrams of flavanols in a serving, other conditions being the same. Researchers then tested the participants daily for “flow-mediated dilation.” Apparently, that is the arteries ability to expand in response to the body’s need for increased oxygen and blood supply.
Researchers checked the participants’ brachial artery in their upper arms before the study began and found that it only expanded 3.3 percent on average. They checked the expansion again after 30 days and found it to be 5.8 percent in the people who drank the 321 milligrams a day. There was no change in the participants who consumed the lower dosage.

A nutritionist at New York University Medical Center, Angela Kurtz, felt that the extra calories consumed by using the cocoa beverage would promote obesity. The positive outcome of the study could lead to more flavanol enriched beverages for diabetics. Mars continues to research the health benefits of consuming chocolate.



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