Think chocolate is bad for your teeth? Think again—it may actually be beneficial. A study out of the University of Osaka Graduate School of Dentistry in Osaka, Japan found that after four days of rinsing with a cocoa flavanol extract without other oral hygiene methods (such as brushing or flossing) participants had decreased bacteria and plaque on their teeth.

Can you believe that? In the book Chocolate – A Healthy Passion, dietician authors Shara Aaron and Monica Bearden explores the many health benefits of cocoa, but also recipes for using chocolate in foods but also in bath gels, lip balms, facial masks and soaps.

Definitely something for the true chocoholic!

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Chocolate for Your Heart, Skin and… Teeth!

In the study, top selling retail products from six categories were tested for the level of resveratrol and its sister compound, piceid. The six product categories included cocoa powder, baking chocolate, dark chocolate, semi-sweet baking chips, milk chocolate and chocolate syrup. Gram for gram, cocoa powder had the highest average amount of resveratrol and piceid, followed by baking chocolates, dark chocolates, semi-sweet chips, milk chocolate and then chocolate syrup. In the products studied, the level of piceid was 3 to 6 times the level of resveratrol.

That could mean that chocolate is doubly good for cardiovascular health: resveratrol, plus flavanols! And, it’s alcohol-free, so it’s perfectly suitable for those who need to stay off alcoholic beverages such as wine!

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Resveratrol, Also in Chocolate and Cocoa

When studying their brains, van Praag and her colleagues found that these mice had greater blood vessel growth in the dentate gyrus and had developed more mature nerve cells, suggesting an enhanced ability of the cells to communicate. Further analysis showed that the epicatechin and exercise combination had a beneficial effect on the expression of genes important for learning and memory, and decreased the activity of genes playing a role in inflammation and neurodegeneration.

Aside from these effects, epicatechin has also been shown previously to improve cardiovascular function and increase blood flow in the brain.

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Epicatechin May Help Protect Against Cognitive Decline

So if chocolate is not an aphrodisiac, why not make it into one?

An array of organic chocolates bearing unusual names such as ‘Dreamy‘, ‘Beautiful‘, ‘Fantastic‘, ‘Lovely‘, ‘Sexy‘ and ‘Sensual‘ will be showcased at the International Speciality and Fine Foods Fair in London next week. The ‘Sexy‘ chocolate bar is made of Belgian chocolate laced with chili, which contains capsaicin, the compound that gives red chilli pepper its heat, and has been reported by several studies to boost heat generation by the body, and therefore boost metabolism. Aside from that it’s also supposed to act as an aphrodisiac, though I haven’t unearthed any publication that document such powers from chili.

Incidentally, I’ve had a taste of Lindt’s “Mexikanischer Gewürzzauber”, which was delightful–quite an experience, really– but sorry to report, did nothing perceptible to my sexual appetite.

Read more about this sexy chocolate from ConfectioneryNews. If you can’t make it to London for the fair, try whipping up your own sexy combo and try baking these Chocolate and Chili Bites. Your tastebuds will surely get tickled, if nothing else!

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Sexy Chocolate, Chili-Hot!