Cocoa Polyphenols: Can We Consider Cocoa and Chocolate as Potential Functional Food?

Chocolate has been consumed as confection, aphrodisiac, and folk medicine for many years before science proved its potential health benefiting effects. Main compounds of cocoa and chocolate which contribute to human health are polyphenols that act as antioxidants and have potential anti-inflammatory...

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Main Authors: Djurdjica Ackar, Kristina Valek Lendić, Marina Valek, Drago Šubarić, Borislav Miličević, Jurislav Babić, Ilija Nedić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:Journal of Chemistry
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/289392
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author Djurdjica Ackar
Kristina Valek Lendić
Marina Valek
Drago Šubarić
Borislav Miličević
Jurislav Babić
Ilija Nedić
author_facet Djurdjica Ackar
Kristina Valek Lendić
Marina Valek
Drago Šubarić
Borislav Miličević
Jurislav Babić
Ilija Nedić
author_sort Djurdjica Ackar
collection DOAJ
description Chocolate has been consumed as confection, aphrodisiac, and folk medicine for many years before science proved its potential health benefiting effects. Main compounds of cocoa and chocolate which contribute to human health are polyphenols that act as antioxidants and have potential anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, antihepatotoxic, antibacterial, antiviral, antiallergenic, and anticarcinogenic properties. This paper gives a short overview of scientific literature regarding cocoa polyphenols and influence of cocoa and chocolate on human health. Although research on health benefits of dark chocolate and cocoa is quite extensive nowadays and shows potentially beneficial effects of dark chocolate and cocoa, there are still lots of unknowns and some controversies. This is obviously an area that needs more research in order to determine factual influence of chocolate on health.
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id doaj-art-ea0443812ced464a8ace25455a66bd8d
institution Kabale University
issn 2090-9063
2090-9071
language English
publishDate 2013-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Journal of Chemistry
spelling doaj-art-ea0443812ced464a8ace25455a66bd8d2025-08-20T03:26:35ZengWileyJournal of Chemistry2090-90632090-90712013-01-01201310.1155/2013/289392289392Cocoa Polyphenols: Can We Consider Cocoa and Chocolate as Potential Functional Food?Djurdjica Ackar0Kristina Valek Lendić1Marina Valek2Drago Šubarić3Borislav Miličević4Jurislav Babić5Ilija Nedić6Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, Franje Kuhača 20, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaInstitute of Public Health of the Osijek-Baranja County, F. Krežme 1, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaInstitute of Public Health of the Osijek-Baranja County, F. Krežme 1, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaFaculty of Food Technology Osijek, Franje Kuhača 20, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaFaculty of Food Technology Osijek, Franje Kuhača 20, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaFaculty of Food Technology Osijek, Franje Kuhača 20, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaSugar Factory Osijek, Frankopanska 99, 31000 Osijek, CroatiaChocolate has been consumed as confection, aphrodisiac, and folk medicine for many years before science proved its potential health benefiting effects. Main compounds of cocoa and chocolate which contribute to human health are polyphenols that act as antioxidants and have potential anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, antihepatotoxic, antibacterial, antiviral, antiallergenic, and anticarcinogenic properties. This paper gives a short overview of scientific literature regarding cocoa polyphenols and influence of cocoa and chocolate on human health. Although research on health benefits of dark chocolate and cocoa is quite extensive nowadays and shows potentially beneficial effects of dark chocolate and cocoa, there are still lots of unknowns and some controversies. This is obviously an area that needs more research in order to determine factual influence of chocolate on health.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/289392
spellingShingle Djurdjica Ackar
Kristina Valek Lendić
Marina Valek
Drago Šubarić
Borislav Miličević
Jurislav Babić
Ilija Nedić
Cocoa Polyphenols: Can We Consider Cocoa and Chocolate as Potential Functional Food?
Journal of Chemistry
title Cocoa Polyphenols: Can We Consider Cocoa and Chocolate as Potential Functional Food?
title_full Cocoa Polyphenols: Can We Consider Cocoa and Chocolate as Potential Functional Food?
title_fullStr Cocoa Polyphenols: Can We Consider Cocoa and Chocolate as Potential Functional Food?
title_full_unstemmed Cocoa Polyphenols: Can We Consider Cocoa and Chocolate as Potential Functional Food?
title_short Cocoa Polyphenols: Can We Consider Cocoa and Chocolate as Potential Functional Food?
title_sort cocoa polyphenols can we consider cocoa and chocolate as potential functional food
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/289392
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