Boost Stem Cells with Dark Chocolate

Can Dark Chocolate Boost Stem Cell Production?

The idea that dark chocolate could boost stem cells sounds almost too good to be true. And while there is some fascinating research behind the claim, the real answer is a little more nuanced.

Early research suggests that cocoa flavanols may increase certain circulating cells involved in blood-vessel repair. That doesn’t mean an ordinary bar of dark chocolate can double all the stem cells in your body, but it does give us an interesting glimpse into how cocoa flavanols may support vascular health.

Let’s unwrap what the research actually found.

First, What Are Stem Cells—and Why Do They Matter?

Stem cells are your body’s natural repair squad. They play an important role in the body’s growth, maintenance and repair.

The study behind the dark chocolate headlines did not measure every type of stem cell. Instead, researchers looked at circulating angiogenic cells, sometimes called endothelial progenitor cells.

These cells circulate in the blood and are associated with the maintenance and repair of the endothelium – the thin layer of cells lining our blood vessels. That makes them particularly interesting to researchers studying heart and circulatory health.

So, What Did the Cocoa Study Find?

The study involved 16 people with coronary artery disease. Each participant consumed a high-flavanol cocoa drink containing 375mg of flavanols twice a day for 30 days. They also completed a separate 30-day period drinking a nutritionally matched cocoa drink containing only 9mg of flavanols.

After the high-flavanol period, the participants had 2.2 times as many of one type of circulating angiogenic cell as they did after the low-flavanol period. Their blood-vessel function also improved.

That is certainly intriguing. However, there are a few important pieces of context:

• The study included only 16 participants.
  
  
• Every participant already had coronary artery disease.
  
  
• The researchers used a controlled, high-flavanol cocoa drink rather than an ordinary chocolate bar.
  
  
• The study measured particular cells associated with blood-vessel repair, not stem cell production throughout the whole body.

In other words, the results are promising, but they don’t prove that eating dark chocolate will generally double your stem cells.

How Do Cocoa Flavanols Come Into It?

Flavanols are naturally occurring plant compounds found in cocoa, tea and certain fruits and vegetables.

Research suggests that cocoa flavanols can help support the function of the endothelium, allowing blood vessels to widen normally and contributing to healthy blood flow. The European Food Safety Authority has recognised this effect for products providing a specified amount of cocoa flavanols.

This may help explain why the high-flavanol drink affected the circulating cells involved in blood-vessel maintenance. However, we still need larger and longer studies before drawing firm conclusions about cocoa and regenerative health.

What About the Magnesium in Dark Chocolate?

Cocoa also contains magnesium, an essential mineral involved in hundreds of processes within the body. These include energy production, protein synthesis, muscle function and communication between nerves.

That makes dark chocolate one possible dietary source of magnesium. However, the study’s results were linked to its cocoa flavanol intervention, not to magnesium. There is not currently enough evidence to say that the magnesium in chocolate increases stem cell production.

It is one more interesting part of cocoa’s nutritional profile – just not the explanation for this particular finding.

Does a Higher Cocoa Percentage Mean More Flavanols?

Not necessarily.

Choosing a bar containing 70% cocoa or more usually means it contains more cocoa ingredients and less sugar than a typical milk chocolate bar. However, the cocoa percentage on the packaging does not tell you exactly how many flavanols the finished chocolate contains.

Flavanol levels can vary according to the cocoa beans used and the way they have been fermented, roasted and processed. Alkalisation, sometimes known as Dutch processing, can substantially reduce the flavanol content of cocoa.

So, while a higher cocoa percentage can be a useful place to start, an 80% bar is not automatically guaranteed to contain more flavanols than every 70% bar.

How Much Dark Chocolate Should You Eat?

There is currently no proven amount of ordinary dark chocolate that will increase circulating angiogenic cells or stem cell production.

The original study used measured doses of a specially formulated high-flavanol drink, so its findings cannot be translated neatly into a certain number of chocolate squares. Flavanol levels also vary considerably between commercial products.

Dark chocolate still contains fat, sugar and calories, so it is best enjoyed in sensible portions as part of a balanced diet rather than treated as a supplement or medicine. For a broader guide, take a look at how much chocolate you should eat daily.

Dark Chocolate and Stem Cells: A Quick Recap

The research is interesting: A small study found that a high-flavanol cocoa drink increased certain cells associated with blood-vessel repair.

It did not measure every kind of stem cell: The cells studied were circulating angiogenic cells linked to vascular health.

Ordinary chocolate was not tested: Participants drank a specially formulated cocoa beverage with a controlled flavanol content.

Cocoa percentage is not the whole story: Processing can make a big difference to the flavanols left in the finished chocolate.

More evidence is needed: Larger studies would be required before we could say that dark chocolate increases stem cell production more generally.

A Super Treat – Without the Superhuman Claims

Dark chocolate is not a miracle medicine, and no single food can repair the body on its own. But cocoa contains some genuinely interesting compounds, and research into its relationship with blood flow and vascular health continues to develop.

For now, there is no need to give your favourite dark chocolate extraordinary powers. Made with carefully chosen ingredients and enjoyed in moderation, it is already something rather special: a rich, deeply satisfying pleasure that may bring a few interesting cocoa compounds along for the ride.

Prefer your chocolate on the deeper, more full-bodied side? Explore our dark chocolate collection, filled with rich bars and handcrafted chocolates made for dark chocolate lovers.