We know that Dark Chocolate – among the many polyphenol-rich foods – can help bolster heart health. But science now says Dark Chocolate can slow aging. And it’s thanks to an exotic biocompound called ‘Theobromine’…
An abstract of the study report explains… “Biological age reflects how well a person’s body is functioning, rather than the number of years they have lived. This measure is based on DNA methylation, a collection of tiny chemical tags on DNA that shift as we grow older.”
What they did
The research team examined data from two European groups, including 509 people from TwinsUK and 1,160 from KORA.
Researchers at King’s College, London, used two approaches to estimate biological age. One method examined DNA changes that reflect the pace of aging. The second measured telomere length, which refers to protective structures at the ends of chromosomes. Telomeres naturally shorten with age and are linked to age-related health risks.
What they found
Professor Jordana Bell, senior study report author and Professor in Epigenomics at King’s College London, said: “Our study finds links between a key component of dark chocolate and staying younger for longer. While we’re not saying that people should eat more dark chocolate, this research can help us understand how everyday foods may hold clues to healthier, longer lives.”
The team also investigated whether other cocoa or coffee metabolites showed similar patterns. Their results suggested that theobromine was the only compound with this specific effect.
The takeaway
Dr. Ramy Saad, lead researcher at King’s College London, said: “This is a very exciting finding, and the next important questions are what is behind this association and how can we explore the interac-tions between dietary metabolites and our epigenome further? This approach could lead us to im-portant discoveries towards aging, and beyond, in common and rare diseases.”association.
My take
‘Theobroma’ – the official name of the cocoa plant – means ‘food of the Gods’.
Even the ancient Mayans knew Chocolate was Special. Coca, to be specific, from which they made a thick, dark beverage reserved for the high priests – and, of course, the Gods.
Thus, the scientific name for the active ingredient (aside from caffeine) in coca is ‘Theobrobromine’.
I’m eager to see what Saad and his team come up with next, on the subject of slowing aging…
~ Maggie J.