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Researchers find that supplementing people's diets with cocoa extract is linked with a lower risk of dying from heart disease. This is good news for chocolate lovers. So for more details, read on.
Part 1. Vocabulary
supplementing /ˈsəpləˌment,ˈsəpləmənt/
v. gerund or present participle
add
an extra element or amount to;
ex. Bread will be supplementing our need for rice or carbohydrates.
extract /ikˈstrakt/ n
a preparation containing the active ingredient of a
substance in concentrated form;
ex. To make the cake delicious, add vanilla extract.
reduce /rəˈd(y)o͞os/ v
make
smaller or less in amount, degree, or size;
ex. We have to reduce the number of people so that the
lace will not be crowded.
cognitive /ˈkäɡnədiv/ adj.
relating to cognition, the mental action or process of
acquiring knowledge and understanding;
ex. There are many activities that can help the
cognitive development of young children.
implications /ˌimpləˈkāSH(ə)n/ n. (plural form)
the
action or state of being involved in something;
ex. Bad actions are implications of bad behavior.
Part 2. Comprehension Questions
What
chocolate is good for your health?
What was found as a supplement that is linked to a lower risk of dying from heart diseases?
What is the compound found in the cocoa powder?
Where else can flavonols be found?
What
are the benefits of eating dark chocolates?
Part 3. Article Reading
You may think of chocolate as "unhealthy" food, but dark chocolate can actually have benefits for
everything from your mood to your skin. While eating a bar of caramel-filled
milk chocolate every day is probably not the most nutritious choice, having a couple
of squares of dark chocolate can be just what the doctor ordered, as it were. Now,
a new study finds that supplementing people's diets with cocoa extract
is linked with a lower risk of dying from heart disease.
In the study, published earlier this month
in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers examined more than
20,000 U.S. adults ages 60 and up, following up after several years,
supplementing some participants' diets with the cocoa extract. Those who received
the supplement were significantly less likely to die of cardiovascular disease.
"We found that cocoa flavanol
supplementation may reduce clinical
cardiovascular events, including a statistically significant 27% reduction in…
cardiovascular disease (CVD) death," study author Howard D. Sesso, ScD,
MPH, tells Eat This, Not That!.
Flavanols are compounds found in
cocoa powder, chocolate, and other foods, and they have been linked with a
range of health benefits. A 2014 study on cocoa flavanols, also published in
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that they could play a role
in protecting you from cognitive decline as
you age.
Additionally, a 2005 study published
in the American Heart Association's Hypertension journal found evidence that
flavanols from chocolate can reduce blood pressure.
One major point to flag in this most
recent study is that researchers received grants from Mars, Incorporated, the
company that owns M&M'S, Snickers, Twix, Dove, and more. Mars provided the
study pills and packaging. However, the implications of the study extend
beyond just chocolate products.
"Flavanols are not only found in
the cocoa bean, but also in berries, tea, and grapes, among other fruits and
vegetables that remain a critical part of a healthy diet for overall
health," Sesso says. "[This] was not a chocolate trial, but rather a
trial testing a cocoa extract supplement."
He added that understanding exactly
how cocoa flavanols affect cardiovascular health "requires additional
research." Still, given the proven health benefits of dark chocolate, you
may as well pick up a bar on your next trip to the grocery store, especially if
you enjoy the taste. For more on how your favorite candy could be affecting
your body, check out the Side Effects of Eating Chocolate, According to Science.
Source: By Clara Olshansky, March 27,
2022. https://www.eatthis.com
Source:
By Clara Olshansky, March 27, 2022. https://www.eatthis.com