Chocolate could help Parkinson’s disease patients. A recent scientific study is trying to show how the consumption of chocolate may help Parkinson’s disease patients deal with the symptoms of their disease. Learn more about this study and where this science originates from.
The study on the effects of chocolate on Parkinson’s disease sufferers was conducted at Dresden University of Technology in Germany, is being conducted using 30 patients. They will be given 50 grams of either white chocolate or dark chocolate, twice a day, for a week. The following week, the type of chocolate will be switched. Doctors will then examine any changes or differences in their reported symptoms.
Chocolate and Dopamine Release
Parkinson’s disease leads to a variety of symptoms, but the most notable and recognizable is shaking. This is due to the loss of nerve cells in the area of the brain that is responsible for producing dopamine. Dopamine helps to coordinate the movement of limbs and the rest of the body.
Since cocoa contains phenyl ethylamine, which is known to increase the production of dopamine, researchers are hopeful that this could help people suffering from Parkinson’s disease with their symptoms.
Researchers first decided to perform this study after having patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease fill out a questionnaire about their eating habits. Researchers found that these patients were more likely to consume a higher amount of dark chocolate after they developed symptoms than they did before being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Healthy Chocolate Recipe Roundup
If you are looking for some healthy ways to add more chocolate in your diet, then make sure you consider the following chocolate recipes:
Black Forest Trifle
This reduced sugar trifle is easy to make and includes a healthy dose of chocolate, but you will need to prepare ahead of time. Use these ingredients:
- 8 ounces of sugar free chocolate cake mix
- 1 ounce of sugar free chocolate pudding mix
- ¾ cup of water
- 2 cups of fat-free milk
- 16 ounces of frozen, pitted cherries
- 2 cups of fat free whipped topping
Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees. Prepare the cake mix according to the directions on the package, using the ¾ cup of water. After baking, allow the cake to cool and remove from the pan. Cut the cake into cubes.
Prepare the pudding mix following the directions on the package, using the 2 cups of fat free milk. Chill the pudding for at least 30 minutes. Thaw the cherries, saving ¼ cup of juice from the cherries. Combine the cherries and the juice.
Take half of the cake cubes and place in a 3 quart trifle bowl. Spoon half of the cherry mixture over the cake. Spread 1 cup of pudding over the cherry mixture. Top with whipped topping. Repeat the layers – cake cubes, cherry mixture, pudding, and whipped topping. Cover the trifle and chill for at least 8 hours before serving.
Chocolate Tofu Mousse
Chocolate tofu mousse is another healthy recipe for getting more chocolate. Follow along, by using these ingredients:
8 ounces of bittersweet chocolate
¼ cup of blueberries
¼ cup of raspberries
1 cup of soy milk
10 ounces of drained tofu
½ a vanilla bean (scraped)
Start by chopping the bittersweet chocolate and placing it in a bowl. In a saucepan, combine the scraped vanilla bean with the soy milk. Bring this to a boil and then pour it over the chocolate. Let this stand for 1 minute. Remove the vanilla bean and whisk the chocolate until smooth.
Using a blender, blend the tofu until it is creamy. Add the chocolate mixture. Blend this until smooth. Spoon the mixture into 5 separate bowls. Refrigerate the mousse until it is firm. This should take about an hour. When you are ready to serve, divide the blueberries and raspberries between the bowls.
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Tree Bark
This simple recipe is great for the holidays, with the candy canes and mint extract giving it a festive style. You only need the following three ingredients:
- 12 ounces of dark chocolate chips
- 5 candy canes
- 1 teaspoon mint extract
Melt the dark chocolate in a double boiler. Remove the chocolate from heat. Crush 5 candy canes and mix into the chocolate, along with the 1 teaspoon of mint extract. Line a pan with wax paper. Pour the mixture onto the wax paper. Sprinkle another 5 crushed candy canes on the top of the mixture. Refrigerate until it hardens and then break apart.
These recipes are very easy to follow and provide a healthy way to add more chocolate to your diet, without eating a big old chocolate cake. While evidence is pointing to the fact that chocolate may help people suffering from Parkinson’s disease deal with their symptoms, it does not hurt to try this concept out yourself.
References:
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20618002_2,00.html
