The study is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and Mars Inc. (maker of Snickers), and will explore the benefits of cocoa flavanols. Researchers will focus on 18,000 men and women in the U.S., using a double-blind test. Previous (albeit smaller) studies have shown that these flavanols can do wonders for blood pressure, the body's use of insulin, and artery health.
Dr. JoAnn Mason of Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital will lead the study. She said in an interview with CBS that protective flavanols are often ruined when cocoa is processed. But, Mars Inc. has patented a way to extract the flavanols from cocoa and put high concentrations of it into capsules. So, while it won't be exactly like popping M&M's, it's a huge step forward in the justification of eating chocolate on the regular. Thanks, science! (CBS)