Cocoa, the ingredient of chocolate has received much attention and there have been quite a lot of researches done in understanding the health benefits of this ingredient.  It is important to note that cocoa and chocolate have been used interchangeably.  Although there have been various views about the health benefits of cocoa, the interest for chocolate is continuously growing.

Below are some links where you can read further on various information concerning this :

• Antioxidants in Cocoa – Cocoa powder contained the highest levels of TAC and procyanidins.
• Chocolate Addiction – A study on addictive quality of chocolate.
• THbetaCs – Potential neuroactive alkaloids found in chocolate.
• Craving Chocolate – How Americans were different from Spanish chocolate consumers in terms of cravings.
• Chocolate Anti-Aging – A German Doctor combines dark chocolate and soy milk and claims anti-aging results.
• Methylxanthine – Measuring caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline in Chocolate.
• Chocolate Effects on Brain – A study that used chocolate to identify addiction and eating disorder function in the brain.
• Cocoa Antioxidants – Compares total antioxidant capacities of cocoa, black tea, green tea, and red wine.
• Chocolate is a Psychotropic Drug – Study finds that chocolate created increased energy or increased concentration ability.
• Caffeine and Bone Density – Analyzes the relation between caffeine and BMD in younger women.
• Chocolate and Cardiovascular Function – Flavonoids are likely protective against CHD mortality.
• Chocolate Stimulation Chimpanzees – Monkeys like chocolate too. Big surprise!
• Chocolate and Brain Function – How people react when they eat chocolate beyond the point of satisfaction.
• Chocolate Inhibits Caries – Study by Osaka University Faculty of Dentistry.
• Chocolate Effect on Horses – A study of urinary results from horses.
• Chocolate Craving – How chocolate affects hunger – a study by University College London.
• Chocolate Taste – What gives chocolate it’s unique flavor.
• Chocolate is a Drug – Chocolate may create similar psychopharmacologic and behavioral reactions as alcohol and sex.
• Does Chocolate Cause Headaches? – Headache study using carob as the placebo.
• Health Benefits of Tea and Chocolate – Focuses on antioxidant effects of the flavonoids in tea and chocolate.
• How Chocolate Affects Mood – How Chocolate Affects Mood – University of South Wales School of Psychiatry Study.
• Opiods in Chocolate – A study using chocolate and Ensure and viewing behavior in rats.
• Beta-Phenylethylamine in Chocolate – Study showing that aldimines were found in cocoa powders.
• Chocolate and Menstural Cycle – Study shows that chocolate craving occurs at onset of menstruation.
• Chocolate is Better than Alchohol – Study shows that rats prefer chocolate and sucrose over ethanol.
• Does Chocolate Cause Cavities? – Study of plaque in teeth with chocolate.
• Chocolate and Plaque – Effect of chocolate on teeth and plaque.
• Chocolate and Athsma – Chocolate used as a spacer to deliver medicine to the lungs.
• Chocolate and Brain Function – Study indicates that chocolate can increase brain power.
• Chocolate Coatings – Fat, moisture, and ethanol.
• Females Crave Chocolate – Study indicates that chocolate craving stronger in females.
• Women Crave Chocolate During Mensturation? – This study indicates that men and women had similar cravings.
• Chocolate and Emotion – Sadness and joy experienced through chocolate.
• Flavonoids in Chocolate – Study measures effect of flavonoid-rich dark chocolate on endothelial function, measures of oxidative stress, blood lipids, and blood pressure.
• Genetics of Cacao Plant – Developing molecular resources to study the structure and evolution of the genome.
• Sugar Cause Hyperactivity – Twelve double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of sugar challenges failed to provide any evidence that sugar leads to untoward behavior.
• Chocolate and Depression – Does depression lead to chocolate craving?
• Chocolate Longevity – Researchers at Mars Chocolate conduct longevity studies.
• Chocolate for Magnesium Deficiency – Conclusion: habitual use of the cocoa product favors correction of the negative effects of long-term feeding with a diet moderately deficient in Mg.
• Chocolate Mood Effects – Chocolate affects mood more than other foods.
• Chocolate Nightmares – Chocolate linked to nightmares.
• Chocolate and Nurses – Study of how nurses consume chocolate in the hospital.
• Chocolate and Metabolism – Chocolate linekd to absorption of microbial phenolic acid metabolites.
• Chocolate During Pregnancy – Study: How chocolate affected mice during pregnancy.
• Chocolate Allergy – A study on skin allergy linked to chocolate and seratonin levels.
• Chocolate Good For Skin – Antioxidants contribute to healthy skin.
• Chocolate and Alcohol – They have similar addictive properties, according to this study.
• Chocolate Cocoa Tree – Information about the tree that bears the cocoa pod.
• Caffeine and Chocolate – Study to determine whether the caffeine is the source of enjoyment in chocolate.
• The Smell of Chocolate – Olfactory study on foods.
• Teeth and Chocolate – Does chocolate cause cavities?
• Chocolate Improves Memory – Theorized by Mars Chocolate researchers
• Jeanne Calment – Lived to be 120 years old, and loved to eat chocolate. Coincidence?
• Sarah Knauss – Lived to be 119 years old – another avid chocoholic.
• Chocolate Prescription – A search for marijuana-like compounds in chocolate.
• Chocolate Cough Medicine – A study suggests that chocolate is more effective than most medicines.
• Chocolate Makes Babies Happy – A study of chocolate during pregnancy.