Seems European researchers have been paying closer attention to all the benefits associated with chocolate than their American counterparts lately. And we're pleased on the blog when we can report about new perks, like protecting your DNA by eating dark chocolate.

Spanish researchers assigned 20 young and healthy patients a balanced diet to follow for four weeks. Midway through the study, scientists divided patients into two groups. One ate white chocolate while the other consumed dark chocolate.

Patients in the dark chocolate group experienced increased levels of catechin in their blood just two hours after consuming it, and decreased levels of DNA damage in mononuclear blood cells based on tests taken at regular intervals.

The benefits of consuming dark chocolate in the short-term were obvious, however, not for the long haul. Some 22 hours after eating dark chocolate, no signs of those recent benefits were detected.

British Journal of Nutrition November 5, 2009

NutraIngredients-USA.com December 4, 2009