“Dark chocolate supports coronary vascular function… These immediate beneficial effects were paralleled by a significant reduction of oxidative stress.”
Circulation. 2007 Nov 20; 116(21): 2376-82.
“A single acute serving of flavanol-rich cocoa showed that flavanol-rich cocoa can increase cerebral blood flow.”
Journal Cardiovascular Pharmacology. 2006; 47 Suppl2:S215-20.
“Increasing evidence from experimental and clinical studies using cocoa-derived products and chocolate suggest an important role for these high-flavanol foods in heart and vascular protection.”
Nutrition Reviews. 2006 Mar; 64(3):109-18.
“We conclude that [cocoa procyanidins] are potent stimulators of both the innate immune system and early events in adaptive immunity.”
Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2007 Feb; 232(2):293-300.
“Research over the past decade has identified [cocoa] flavanols as showing diverse beneficial physiologic and antioxidant effects.”
Journal Cardiovascular Pharmacology. 2006; 47 Suppl2:S215-20.
“Chocolate has thus been shown to have potential beneficial effects with respect to heart health.”
Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. 2006 Oct 18; 54(21): 8071-6.
Dietary flavanols from cocoa contribute to improved [skin] blood circulation, and affect cosmetically relevant skin surface variables.”
Journal of Nutrition. 2006 Jun; 136(6): 1565-9.
“These results indicate that cocoa may possess potential effects on blood-glucose levels.”
Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2005 Apr 8: 98(1-2):55-60.