http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. (Medical Xpress)—Good news for chocolate lovers. New research from Swinburne University of Technology has found that the polyphenols in dark chocolate increase calmness and contentedness. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-dark-chocolate-calmness.html Psychology & Psychiatry Fri, 03 May 2013 07:20:02 EST news286783851 It's been said that food is the language of love. If so, can certain foods—or aphrodisiacs—promote romantic feelings or sexual desire? http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-food-aphrodisiacs-expert-nutrition.html Health Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:00:20 EST news279370813 (Medical Xpress)—Cocoa-rich dark chocolate might help protect against heart disease and stroke, but probably more so if you are a man. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-dark-chocolate-good-healthparticularly-male.html Health Mon, 24 Dec 2012 06:07:31 EST news275551640 Compounds in cocoa may help to reduce blood pressure, according to a new systematic review in The Cochrane Library. The researchers reviewed evidence from short-term trials in which participants were given dark chocolate or cocoa powder daily and found that their blood pressure dropped slightly compared to a control group. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-cocoa-compounds-blood-pressure.html Health Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:00:04 EST news264166490 Daily consumption of dark chocolate can reduce cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, in people with metabolic syndrome (a cluster of factors that increases the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes), finds a study published on BMJ today. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-dark-chocolate-heart-problems-high-risk.html Cardiology Thu, 31 May 2012 18:30:01 EST news257706108 Chocolate, considered by some to be the "food of the gods," has been part of the human diet for at least 4,000 years; its origin thought to be in the region surrounding the Amazon basin. Introduced to the Western world by Christopher Columbus after his fourth voyage to the New World in 1502, chocolate is now enjoyed worldwide. Researchers estimate that the typical American consumes over 10 pounds of chocolate annually, with those living on the west coast eating the most. Wouldn't it be great if only chocolate were considered healthy? http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-apples-day-dark-chocolate-doctor.html Health Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:18:00 EST news254506596 An expert panel at the Institute of Food Technologists' Wellness 12 meeting urged the food industry to find simple yet powerful language to tell consumers about the many benefits of a diet rich in phytonutrients. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-consumers-simple-concise-messages-benefits.html Health Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:17:48 EST news252775062 (HealthDay) -- International researchers have uncovered even more healthy properties of flavanols -- the antioxidants found in cocoa beans. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-chocolate-sweet-remedy-ills.html Health Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:19:58 EST news252238778 A small clinical trial led by researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine and VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) found that patients with advanced heart failure and type 2 diabetes showed improved mitochondrial structure after three months of treatment with epicatechin-enriched cocoa. Epicatechin is a flavonoid found in dark chocolate. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-cocoa-skeletal-muscle-function.html Health Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:56:08 EST news249911752 A compound in citrus fruits may reduce your stroke risk, according to research reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-citrus-fruit-women.html Cardiology Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:00:01 EST news249226233 Forget the oysters and the champagne this Valentine’s Day. If you want to keep your true love’s heart beating strong, dark chocolate and red wine are the food and drink of love, said Susan Ofria, clinical nutrition manager at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-dark-chocolate-red-wine-heart-healthy.html Health Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:20:01 EST news247731024 (Medical Xpress) -- Products containing probiotics are popping up in many foods and dietary supplements found at your local grocery store. Although most people assume that probiotics are in fermented items such as yogurt and sauerkraut, manufacturers also are finding ways to produce other products such as dark chocolate, cereal, juice and pickles to contain these “bugs." http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-11-probiotics-potential-health-conditions.html Medical research Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:08:11 EST news240242874 Offer apples to trick-or-treaters and risk having your house get egged - maybe even by your own kids. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-halloween-doesnt-gorge-fest-fun.html Health Sat, 29 Oct 2011 05:21:35 EST news239084475 Have a sweet tooth? It could protect you from a stroke, according to a large Swedish study published Tuesday on women chocolate-lovers. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-women-chocoholics-smaller-swedish.html Cardiology Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:37:59 EST news237548266 (Medical Xpress) -- The researchers compiled a systematic review of seven studies using data from 114,000 patients and found that people who consumed the most chocolate had a 37 per cent lower risk of developing heart disease and a 29 per cent lower risk of suffering a stroke than those who consumed less chocolate. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-chocolate-heart-disease.html Health Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:36:44 EST news234002190 Scientists in Canada said Monday that they plan to study whether eating dark chocolate not only satisfies sweet tooth cravings, but protects against sunburn as well. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-chocolate-wards-hunger-sunburn.html Health Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:11:03 EST news232647048