Fruit Flies Love Chocolate for Good Reason

May 30, 2008

The majority of studies show that calorie restriction leads to a longer life in most mammals, including humans. Being overweight isn't good for any species, and eating less is probably also beneficial because our bodies then have less cellular garbage buildup, such as free radicals, which can result from oxidation, a chemical process in which atoms change. Fasting isn't exactly a ball of laughs topic, so I always like it when studies come out showing that certain tasty foods and drinks can benefit humans and other animals.

Recently York University biologists determined cocoa consumption may actually increase the lifespan of fruit flies. Now I can hear you saying, "Big deal. We're not flies." But chocolate works on flies nearly the same way that it does on humans.

The researchers, Sepehr Bahadorania and Arthur J. Hilliker, determined cocoa can act as a "strong antioxidant," preventing free radicals from hijacking cells. It also seems to help fight off the presence of excess heavy metals. We're subjected to these all of the time, given industrial pollution, climate change, bad management of resources and more. The metals include things like mercury, arsenic and lead.

To add to the recent cocoa findings, last year or so I spoke at length with other scientists researching chocolate, and they said preliminary work suggests it lowers blood pressure and can improve cholesterol levels, to the point that it might go into future medications. That's a pill most of us wouldn't mind swallowing.

So this weekend, consider enjoying a bit of chocolate. Look for varieties with less fat and a high cocoa content. It's also better for the environment to purchase organic products with "fair trade" on the label. Don't share your dessert with your pet, however, as chocolate is toxic to dogs, horses, cows, cats, rabbits, rodents, birds and many other animals.

A bit of animal/chocolate trivia is that monkeys, rodents and birds that are native to Central and South America, where cacao trees grow, eat the sweet pulp that surrounds the cacao pods, which we use to make chocolate. (Early humans used to only eat this too.) When the animals voraciously consume this pulp, they spit out the bitter seeds, leading to the eventual growth of new cacao trees.

If you've never seen a forest full of cacao trees, or have wondered where chocolate comes from, check out the below forest tour given by an ultra cool dread-locked dude.