Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Want to Eat Chocolate Every Day For a Year?

Posted by samzenpus on from the dental-nightmare dept.

Scientists from the University of East Anglia are studying the potential health benefits of dark chocolate, and need 40 female volunteers who would like to eat chocolate every day for a year. The chocolate loving 40 must be post-menopausal and have type 2 diabetes so it can be determined if the flavonoid compounds in chocolate can reduce the risk of heart disease. Dr Peter Curtis, of the UEA's School of Medicine, said, "Our first volunteers are about to return for their final visit to see if the markers of heart health - such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels — have changed. A successful outcome could be the first step in developing new ways to improve the lives of people at increased risk of heart disease."

8 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. slashdot demographics by BigHungryJoe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm sure the post-menopausal, type-2 diabetic woman that regularly reads slashdot appreciates knowing about this study.

  2. If there's a more underrepresented demographic... by swillden · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... on slashdot than post-menopausal women, I don't know what it would be.

    --
    Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
  3. Re:If there's a more underrepresented demographic. by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pre-Menopausal.

  4. Anonymous Coward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Just FYI: Flavonoids are polycyclic aromatic molecules, capable of absorbing free radicals through their conjugated bonds (i.e. moving the unpaired electron around so that a built-up of charge is not created (which drastically lowers its reactivity (and therefore stops a free radical's harmful effects (like the hydroxyl radical, which is used by fungi to invade the cell walls of wood (which is why flavonoids are being explored as wood preservatives, and why the Osage Orange tree is naturally resistant to fungi (since it has a natural abundance of flavonoids)))))). Flavonoids are good at absorbing the harmful affects of free radicals (unpaired electrons) in the body, and this can be a very good thing :)

    1. Re:Anonymous Coward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      are you a lisp programmer?

  5. Re:If there's a more underrepresented demographic. by Zerth · · Score: 5, Funny

    Bisexual, attractive, nudist 19yo women who care more about her WoW character's latest adventure than shoes, that are looking to move into a basement, has a couple of friends of a similar nature that also need a place to stay, and hopes to trade their domestic skills in place of rent so they can afford the gigabit fiber drop, which they'd also share, but only if you agree to referee their jello-wrestling.

  6. There's a problem here.... by sunderland56 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Finding 40 women willing to eat chocolate daily: easy.

    Finding 40 women that will agree to NOT eat ANY chocolate for a year, as a control: yeah, good luck with that.

  7. Re:If there's a more underrepresented demographic. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    So it's okay to leave off 'attractive' and 'women', then?