Sweet, sweet nonsense

Even when it’s delicious, nonsense is still nonsense.

“Cup of Cocoa May Keep Doctor Away,” read the headline of a recent BBC News article. The only way you could buy nonsense like that is if you were in complete denial about what’s truly healthy for you and what’s not.

This revelation about the health properties of cocoa comes from a Cornell University study that found a cup of cocoa to have a higher antioxidant level than either green tea or red wine.

I’m willing to believe that the conclusion of this study is not nonsense at all. As I’ve written in previous e-Alerts, there are components of the cocoa plant that are very good for you. Soit’s no surprise that a cup of cocoa might score higher on theantioxidant charts than those other famous antioxidant-richbeverages.

But what does a cup of cocoa inevitably come packed with? Sugar. And lots of it. And no amount of antioxidants will transform a sugar-laden drink into something healthy.

One of the authors of the study told BBC News that a cup of hot cocoa “every once in a while” is a good way to increase antioxidant intake. That statement would NOT be nonsense if:

1. We only needed antioxidants every once in a while;

and

2. we had absolutely no other way to get antioxidants.

Just off the top of my head, I can think of one much better way to get plenty of antioxidants: eat an apple. Apples are loaded with antioxidants, while the fruit fiber helps keep blood sugar from spiking.

And that could be the reason why an apple a day just might actually keep the doctor away.

But hot cocoa? Nonsense. Delicious but nonsense.
To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute
Source:
“Cup of Cocoa May Keep Doctor Away” BBC News, 11/8/03,news.bbc.co.uk