Dark Chocolate–miracle drug/another good reason to eat it!

Chemical (flayonoids) found in dark chocolate may be natural diarrhea remedy and antioxidants (flavonols) also found in chocolate may help smokers' blood vessels.

Results of a new study in the Journal of Nutrition, suggest that flavonoids may be used in nutritional supplements as a natural remedy for diarrhea (dark chocolate contains the highest concentration of these flavonoids). "Our study presents the first evidence that fluid loss by the intestine can be prevented by cocoa flavonoids," says researcher Horst Fischer, PhD, an associate scientist at Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute. "Ultimately, this discovery could lead to the development of natural treatments that are inexpensive, easy to access, and are unlikely to have side effects." Researchers say the use of cocoa to treat diarrhea dates back to ancient South American and European cultures.

Also, chocolate may help repair damage to smokers' blood vessels, at least temporarily, a new study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology states. The benefit may stem from antioxidants called flavonols that are found in chocolate. In the study, blood vessel function was notably better after drinking a flavonol-rich drink. That might be due to rises in levels of a chemical called nitric oxide in the blood. The study was funded by an unrestricted grant from candy maker Mars Inc., which also supplied the cocoa drinks.