Researchers announced on Tuesday at a meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) that they discovered that chocolate-eating microbes in the gut help dark chocolate improve health in the heart.
The scientists said the microbes convert part of the candy that cannot be digested into anti-inflammatory compounds, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Maria Moore, researcher for Louisiana State University, said the microbes were divided into two types based on how they disposed of the snack, Daily Mail reported.
"We found that there are two kinds of microbes in the gut: the 'good' ones and the 'bad' ones. The good microbes, such as Bifidobacterium, and lactic acid bacteria, feast on chocolate. When you eat dark chocolate, they grow and ferment it, producing compounds that are anti-inflammatory."
The researchers used modified test tubes, which modeled a human digestive tract, to test three cocoa powders and study the effects dark chocolate had on stomach bacteria. John Finley, a professor of food science and biochemistry at Louisiana State University and leader of the study, said cocoa powder contains flavanol compounds of catechin and epicatechin and a small amount of dietary fiber. While they are poorly digested, the good microbes convert them when they enter the colon, Medical News Today reported.
Finley said the researchers looked for changes after subjecting the non-digestible materials to anaerobic fermentation, or using human fecal bacteria in the modified test tubes.
"In our study we found that the fiber is fermented and the large polyphenolic polymers are metabolized to smaller molecules, which are more easily absorbed," Finley said. "These smaller polymers exhibit anti-inflammatory activity."
The researchers suggested other foods that people can eat to improve their health, Medical News Today reported. They said eating prebiotics can convert polyphenolics in the stomach into compounds that act as anti-inflammatories. Prebiotics can be found in raw garlic and cooked whole wheat flour, and are also available in dietary supplements. Finley said combining dark chocolate with solid fruits such as pomegranates and acai can provide health benefits.
Finley said his team will use more clinical trials to confirm the benefits of these microbes.
