John Finley, LSU – Cocoa Power

Sure, chocolate is delicious, but the main ingredient offers us many health benefits as well!

John Finley, professor at Louisiana State University’s College of Agriculture, touts the power of cocoa.

John Finley is a professor in the LSU College of Agriculture’s School of Nutrition and Food Sciences. Finley is interested in foods which enhance health, particularly related to obesity and reducing the side effects of obesity. His specific interests are in the development of culinary quality in low-calorie foods and ingredients.

Additionally, he has an active program on reducing chronic inflammation with dietary intervention. Inflammation is the basis of any of the side effects of obesity and diabetes. Food ingredients and altered diet can reduce or delay these adverse side effects. Finley holds a Ph.D. in Food Science and Biochemistry from Cornell University.

John Finley – Health Benefits of Chocolate

It has been claimed for centuries that cocoa powder has many health benefits including cardiovascular benefits, but we didn’t understand why. Cocoa powder can act like tea, blueberries and blackberries to reduce inflammation in the cardiovascular system.

When cocoa is consumed, non-digestible material reaches our lower gastro-intestinal tract. My undergraduate student Maria Moore and I wanted to see how the bacteria in the gut affect these non-digestible compounds.

We developed an artificial stomach and small intestine model to simulate the human digestive system. We put cocoa powder through it. The material that was not digested in the model stomach and intestine were then fed to another model system of vessels containing human fecal matter to simulate the large intestine. After the cocoa went through the first phase of digestion – the stomach and small intestine –non-digestible polyphenols and dietary fiber was left. The polyphenols at this stage were too large to be absorbed. In the second phase, the non-digestible large polyphenols and dietary fiber were then modified by the gut microbes to produce smaller molecules that are more likely to make it across the gut into the blood. From there these compounds are able to help protect our blood vessels from inflammation.

Another benefit is that some of the fiber is converted to butyric acid and other acids that make for a healthy colon. Butyric acid also causes satiety, making the consumer feel full and less likely to eat more.

Consumption of cocoa powder provides significant health benefits. Chocolate candy contains cocoa powder, but we need to be cautioned that it also contains sugar and fat.

Read More: Gut bacteria play a role in why dark chocolate is so good for you