Most of us think of aging the same way we do death and taxes, as inevitable – a process we all go through that will happen no matter what.
But the truth is, not everyone ages the same.
In fact, it’s well known that some people are “super-agers”, capable of staying younger longer.
And while some super-agers are simply genetically gifted, others put simple healthy aging strategies to work to help stop their biological clocks from speeding unchecked.
One of the easiest and tastiest of these strategies was discovered by a team of researchers at King’s College London, who found that chocolate contains a secret compound capable not just of slowing but of reversing biological aging.
Here’s what you need to know about the compound and how to leverage chocolate’s sweet anti-aging secret…
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The study, published in the journal Aging, compared participants’ blood levels of the natural chemical theobromine, found in cocoa, with blood-based markers of biological aging.
These markers offer clear evidence of how old your body actually is (your biological age) based on its health and function, rather than just looking at the number of years you’ve lived (your chronological age).
The markers are like small ‘bookmarks’ on your DNA, called methylation. And they change over the course of your life, influenced by environmental factors and lifestyle choices that affect the aging process. As a result, two people with the same chronological age can have significantly different biological ages, depending on their health and experiences.
So how about that theobromine?
In their study of nearly 1,700 people, King’s College researchers found that those with higher levels of theobromine in their blood had a biological age younger than their actual age.
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Enjoy chocolate’s anti-aging goodness
This reminds me of a habit of a very long-lived nun…
On January 17, 2023, supercentenarian Sister André, a French nun, passed away at age 118, just weeks shy of her 119th birthday.
She was known to drink wine regularly and was especially fond of chocolate, reportedly enjoying a little over 2 pounds a week!
Both chocolate and wine are also rich in polyphenols, antioxidant compounds known to have beneficial effects on human health.
One open question the King’s College researcher had was whether the anti-aging findings in their study were unique to theobromine alone or whether theobromine may interact with polyphenols.
All this is quite promising, but don’t go overboard on the chocolate just yet…
According to Professor Jordana Bell, senior author of the paper and a Professor in Epigenomics at King’s College London, “Our study finds links between a key component of dark chocolate and staying younger for longer. While we’re not saying that people should eat more dark chocolate, this research can help us understand how everyday foods may hold clues to healthier, longer lives.”
Numerous studies, however, have confirmed that chocolate may have health benefits – from providing potent heart protection to boosting brain power and even supporting eyesight.
Additionally, numerous studies have shown that sugar is anything but healthy. So if you’re currently a fan of chocolate, try to eat it in its healthiest form.
Look for a cocoa content of 70% or higher. To avoid increasing your sugar intake, consider organic chocolate, which is typically low in sugar and made with coconut oil.
And remember, don’t reach for the milk chocolate by accident. It tends to have a higher sugar content and doesn’t offer all the health benefits of dark chocolate.
Sources:
Key chemical in dark chocolate may slow down ageing – EurekAlert!
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