Scientists Say Dark Chocolate Is Even Healthier Than We Thought

Dark chocolate has been found to contain powerful antioxidants that can reduce blood pressure, improve brain function and mood, and offer anti-inflammatory effects. And now, according to new research, it may slow the aging process.

The study, published in Aging, focused on a plant-based chemical called theobromine that's found abundantly in cocoa. It's part of a group called alkaloids, which come from the same family as caffeine.

To explore the possible link between theobromine and aging, the study's scientists analyzed data from two large, independent groups of people: a group of female twins from the U.K. and men and women from Germany.

They collected blood samples from each participant to measure the levels of theobromine and other related compounds like caffeine and to analyze their DNA for “epigenetic clocks," which help determine a person’s biological age as opposed to their chronological age.

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Researchers found that higher levels of theobromine in the blood were significantly associated with slower epigenetic aging. Basically, people with more of the compound appeared to be biologically younger than their actual age.

The study also found an important link between theobromine and longer telomeres. Telomeres are protective caps on the ends of our chromosomes that tend to shorten as we age, so longer telomeres are generally a good sign for cellular health.

The researchers concluded that more studies need to be conducted in order to find out how and why theobromine may extend health span, so they're not prescribing a diet of dark chocolate just yet. But if you're going to have a sweet treat, look for dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa solids (70 percent or more). The higher the cocoa content, the more theobromine it contains and the less sugar it usually has.