Eating dark chocolate could help fend off cancer, research shows.
Magnesium found in the sweet treat has been identified by an international team of scientists including from Cambridge University as key to the body’s immune response.
Killer ‘T cells’ are the body’s main weapon against cancer cells directly and lab experiments showed they are only effective in a magnesium rich environment.
Seven in ten Brits are deficient in magnesium because of poor diets. It is also found in green vegetables, wholemeal bread, nuts, avocado and brown rice.
Author Prof Christoph Hess, of Basel University in Switzerland, said: “In order to verify this observation clinically [in patients] we’re now looking for ways to increase magnesium in tumours in a targeted manner.”
The promising results, published in the journal Cell, also included data backing its conclusion from actual cancer patients.
Immunotherapy treatments against cancer were less effective in those with insufficient levels of magnesium in their blood.
Nutritional therapist Sarah Brookes, of the Autoimmune Hub, said: “Dark chocolate isn’t just delicious but very healthy too.
“It’s rich in magnesium, making it the perfect treat. Most people are deficient in magnesium and getting enough could help with stress, sleep, anxiety and relaxation.
“It is also high in iron, copper, potassium, calcium and phosphorus as well as fibre, antioxidants and plant compounds such as polyphenols and flavanols which are beneficial for your overall gut health.
“It is best to go for bars with over 70% content of the raw cacao ingredient that is key. You can also make drinks such as hot chocolate with cacao powder.”
Magnesium is a mineral that helps turn the food we eat into energy and boosts bone health.
The NHS says the amount you need daily is 300mg a day for men and 270mg a day for women.
These amounts can be obtained from a healthy diet but some people take magnesium supplements.
Taking high doses of magnesium more than 400mg for a short time can cause diarrhoea.
There is not enough evidence to say what the effects might be of taking too much magnesium for a long time.
