Dark Chocolate For Diabetes?

Do you like rich dark chocolate? I am not sure I ever met a person who didn't. Turns out that dark chocolate might be beneficial to you especially if you are a diabetic. It doesn't then follow that you can eat 7 or 8 dark chocolate bars every day and convince yourself that you are doing this to get well.

What then is the truth about chocolate (Cocoa) and Type 2 diabetes? Let's take a look at it.

I came across this article from Life Extension's website in my studies indicating that patients with advanced heart failure and type 2 diabetes showed improvement in 3 months after consuming EPICATECHIN-ENRICHED Cocoa per U.S researchers.



http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=12345&Section=DISEASE&utm_source=DailyHealthBulletin&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Disease&utm_content=Body+ContinueReading&utm_campaign=DHB_120306


EXCERPT:

Cocoa may help diabetes, heart failure

United Press International
03-05-12

Patients with advanced heart failure and type 2 diabetes showed improvement after three months of consuming epicatechin-enriched cocoa, U.S. researchers said.
Dr. Francisco J. Villarreal of University of California, San Diego, said epicatechin is a flavonoid found in dark chocolate.
The researchers examined five profoundly ill patients with major damage to skeletal muscle mitochondria -- structures responsible for most of the energy produced in cells. These "fuel cells" are dysfunctional as a result of both type 2 diabetes and heart failure, leading to abnormalities in skeletal muscle, Villarreal said.
Patients with heart failure and diabetes experience abnormalities in both the heart and skeletal muscle that can result in impaired functional capacity. They often complain of shortness of breath, lack of energy and have difficulty walking even short distances.
Trial participants consumed dark chocolate bars and a beverage with a total epicatechin content of approximately 100 milligram per day for three months. Biopsies of skeletal muscle were conducted before and after treatment.
After three months, the researchers looked at changes in mitochondria volume and the abundance of cristae, are internal compartments of mitochondria necessary for efficient function of the mitochondria.
"The cristae had been severely damaged and decreased in quantity in these patients," Villarreal said in a statement. "After three months, we saw recovery -- cristae numbers back toward normal levels, and increases in several molecular indicators involved in new mitochondria production."
The findings were published in the journal Clinical and Translational Science.

(MY INPUT):

Okay then what is CRISTAE? ( I found out in Wikipedia answers)

Answer:

          

"Cristae (singular crista) are the internal compartments formed by the inner membrane of a Mitochondrion.""They are studded with proteins, including ATP synthase and a variety of cytochromes. The maximum surface for chemical reactions to occur is within the mitochondria. This allows cellular respiration (aerobic respiration since the mitochondria requires oxygen) to occur" (All the above is from Wikipedia)

Basically:

-Cristae are formed by the inner membrane of the Mitochondrion

-Cristae are studded with protein

-Cristae allow Aerobic Cellular Respiration to occur

(MY INPUT)  More on Cocoa and its benefits:

Why is cocoa good for you?

• Chocolate and cocoa products have HIGHER flavanol content on a per weight basis than other plant based food and beverages such as apples and red wine - I DIDN'T know that.
• High in anti-oxidants - scavenge free radicals and CHELATE (or combine with Redox active metal ions)
• More ORAC value than even strawberries, blueberries or garlic / ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity
• High concentration of poly phenols

Anyway, I happen to like chocolate and hot cocoa, so now I don't have to feel guilty about having a cup of cocoa every night after dinner.

Dan

Isa 55:9-11

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.