Dark chocolate can be not only delicious but also useful for longevity. British scientists from the Royal College of London have found that the chemical theobromine contained in cocoa products can slow down biological aging. About it reports UNN with reference to Newscientist .
Theobromine is a natural compound that is part of cocoa beans and is mainly contained in dark chocolate. It is known for its toxic effect on dogs, but it can be useful for humans.
The team of scientists under the guidance of Rami Saada investigated the link between the level of theobromine in the blood and the biological age of 500 women who participated in the long -term Twinsuk . It turned out that the higher level of theobromine in the blood correlates with lower biological age.
"This means that a person looks and works more at a cellular level than his passport age indicates," explains researcher Jordan Bell.
To confirm the results, scientists have analyzed another independent study from Germany - KORA - which covers more than 1000 people. And there they also found a similar pattern.
The peculiarity of this study is the use of real biomarkers in the blood instead of surveys. This made it possible to more accurately evaluate the effect of theobromine on cellular aging. The source of the substance in the diet is mostly dark chocolate, which contains much more cocoa than milk or white.
"I would not expect to get a lot of theobromine from Milkybar," Saad joked.
The results of the study appeared against the backdrop of a sharp increase in cocoa-bean prices-185% at the end of 2024, up to $ 12,000 per tonne. The reason was climatic anomalies in West Africa. Therefore, chocolate seems not only a source of pleasure, but also a luxury with a potential rejuvenating effect.
