Although if we talk about countries, the United States is at the fore in chocolate consumption, there is a small population that is a reference for scientists who study the effects of taking cocoa. These are the indigenous Kuna of Panama , who drink an average of 40 cups of chocolate per week . Surprisingly, the members of this culture hardly suffer from hypertension , and the incidence of heart attack, coronary heart disease, cancer and diabetes in their population is less than 10 percent. To this is added that they seem to live longer than other Panamanians, that they hardly become overweight and that they do not suffer from dementia as they age.
Norman Hollenberg, a researcher at Harvard University School of Medicine (USA), believes that the key to the health of the Kuna is in the chocolate they consume. And he is convinced that, in view of these results, epicatechin should be considered an essential part of the diet and classified as a "vitamin".
