Chocolate for Coughs and Other Medicinal Purposes
Photo by: Michael Cramer
Through the ages, chocolate has been used for medicinal purposes. In the past century, its use has declined as people turn to the pharmaceutical industry. The recent trend to look toward natural healing leads us back to remedies from the past. Chocolate's health benefits have been no stranger to the limelight. Chocolate is proven to be a star in everything from acting as a cough suppressant to possibly even cancer prevention!
Can dark chocolate be the new addition to cough syrups we buy at our local pharmacy? Over $2 billion dollars per year are spent on non-prescription cough syrups every year in the United States. Much of these medications are supplied to children. When children or adults coughs are not calmed with such cough syrups, they often seek a prescription from their family physician for a narcotic cough syrup. Researchers in a study conducted in England have found that the far-fetched idea of using some of the compounds found in chocolate as a prescription medicine alternative may in fact be a reality before we know it. Researchers from Imperial College in London, Royal Brompton Hospital, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, and Chinoin Co., Ltd, Budapest conducted a study involving codeine versus Theobromine which is found in chocolate. As expected, the codeine is extremely effective in calming the cough, but the Theobromine was 33 percent more effective than the codeine, lasted for about four hours and had absolutely no side effects.
The good news is that only a small amount of dark chocolate is needed to calm the cough. Dark chocolate contains about 450 milligrams of Theobromine per ounce. The study was conducted with the amount similar to two ounces of dark chocolate. Children should require only about one ounce of dark chocolate since their body weight is significantly less than an adult. The subject of dark chocolate keeping you up at night should not be a concern. Although chocolate has a similar chemical make-up to caffeine, it has not been shown to interfere with sleep.
Having trouble with your memory? Always check with your doctor first, but maybe some cocoa or dark chocolate in your diet will do the trick. A natural compound found in cocoa enhances the memory of mice, even more so when combined with exercise. The Salk Institute's research team noted that this compound increased blood flow to the brain resulting in an increase in memory. The results of the study also found that mice that had been sedentary and were fed the compound also had an increase in memory capacity, blood vessel growth, and gene activity, although the results were more remarkable in the mice that exercised with the supplement. Dr. Mark Mattson at the National Institute on Aging says, “This finding is an important advance because it identifies a single natural chemical with memory-enhancing effects, suggesting that it may be possible to optimize brain function by combining exercise and dietary supplementation.”
Believe it or not, dark chocolate and cocoa may even help prevent cancer. Flavonols and proanthocyanidins found in dark chocolate and cocoa might have anti-carcinogenic effects. Cornell University food scientists have confirmed that cocoa has such a high amount of antioxidants that it can prevent cancer. The scientists say cocoa has twice the amount of antioxidants found in red wine and three times the amount found in green tea or black tea. The presence of these antioxidants can help prevent other diseases than cancer including heart disease. He also suggests getting the benefits of all three antioxidant rich foods by, “drinking hot cocoa in the morning, green tea in the afternoon and a glass of red wine in the evening. That’s a good combination.”
Cornell University researchers also conducted a study on the flavonols in chocolate and found that they may inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the colon. The men of Finland with the highest levels of flavonols in their diet were less likely to develop lung cancer than those with much lower levels of flavonols. That should not be much of a surprise since chocolate is the powerhouse of antioxidants and a little goes a long way.
These studies show chocolate and cocoa can help with a myriad of common health concerns. As with everything, eat in moderation and use the best quality organic and ideally Fair Trade Certified dark chocolate and cocoa available and enjoy! There are many great varieties, but one excellent chocolate that comes in natural and organic varieties and is also socially-conscious is Endangered Species Chocolate. It couldn’t hurt and it sure makes you feel good, in more ways than one!
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or health care professional. You should not use the information here for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplement program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.
