FAMILY MEDICINE® COLUMN
By John C. Wolf, D.O.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine®
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

CHOCOLATE MAY PREVENT DISEASE AND PROMOTE VASCULAR HEALTH

Question: I read in a recent edition of Science News that chocolate may be good for our health, not bad for it. What do you think?

Answer: Most forms of chocolate can hardly be considered health food. They're usually high in sugar, calories and saturated fat. However, at one time, chocolate and cocoa were extensively used as medicine in Europe and in North and South America. In fact, historians have documented that chocolate has been used in the past to treat all sorts of illnesses -- including gastrointestinal upset, tuberculosis, anemia and kidney stones. It is still included in some herbal remedies, particularly those used in Europe. Now, some modern-day research that you saw reported in a recent issue of Science News claims chocolate may not be as bad as we once thought. And while it's too early to talk about chocolate as a health food, this new research does suggest that eating chocolate might be "OK" as long as you don't overindulge.

Scientists have found that chocolate and cocoa contain natural compounds called antioxidants that may benefit the heart and blood vessels. These antioxidants counteract a process known as oxidation that is part of our normal metabolism. This oxidation process creates unstable and potentially dangerous compounds called "free radicals" that can damage our cells and make us more prone to heart disease, cancer or stroke.

Many fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods are rich in antioxidants. The scientists reporting in the Science News article believe that chocolate has similar benefits to these foods in limiting the oxidation of cholesterol and reducing plaque build-up in the arteries. Also, independent of the anti-oxidant effect, natural chemicals in chocolate apparently trigger biological actions that reduces inflammation and increases nitric oxide levels in the blood. These higher nitric oxide levels help relax the inner surface of blood vessels and promote good "vascular health." However, I cannot emphasize enough that these studies are preliminary. So for now, the bottom line is that more research will be needed before I can say that chocolate should join tea, red wine and cruciferous vegetables as staples in a heart-healthy diet.

The beneficial consequences of eating chocolate were the result of consuming one small square of dark chocolate, or a cup of hot chocolate a day. There really isn't anything wrong with eating chocolate in these modest quantities if you don't have diabetes. If you are like my daughter, however, who like many people consider chocolate one of the major food groups, limiting your consumption to this level will be a major accomplishment. You see, each American, on average, consumes 12 pounds of this delicacy each year -- and that's certainly not healthy!

Doctor Wolf's Chocolate Chip Cookies 

3 cups rolled oats 2 cups cake flour 
¾ cups brown sugar 
¾ cups granulated sugar 
1 teaspoon baking soda 
1 teaspoon vanilla 
½ teaspoon salt 
2 eggs 
1 stick butter 
8 ounces cream cheese 
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 
1 cup chopped pecans 
¾ cup malted milk powder 

Process the oats in a blender or food processor until it becomes a fine flour. Add the cake flour, baking soda, salt and malted milk. Process briefly to thoroughly mix. (Note: I mail order malted milk powder, but you can also process one cup of malted milk balls candy and get similar results.) 

Beat together butter, cream cheese, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Add the eggs and mix until smooth and creamy. Add the dry ingredients and mix until thoroughly combine. Add the chocolate chips and pecans. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased non-stick baking sheet. Makes 4 dozen. Bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for 14 minutes. 

These cookies stand taller and have less fat than most chocolate chip cookies. The malted milk adds an interesting subtle "malt" component to the flavor, but if you don't like malt, just leave it out. 

Remember - consume in moderation.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to John C. Wolf, D.O., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Grosvenor Hall, Athens, Ohio 45701. Past columns are available online at http://www.FamilyMedicineNews.org.