A recent medical study has shown that cocoa powder contains substances that improve eye health and help treat serious eye diseases that may lead to vision loss.
In their research, scientists studied the effects of cocoa on blood vessel cells in the eye and on mice with eye diseases. Laboratory experiments showed that cocoa reduced the activity of the HIF-1α protein, which is associated with vision problems, and stimulated the production of substances that promote the growth of new blood vessels in the eye. Cocoa also reduced the activity of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and other molecules associated with inflammation and pathological tissue remodeling in the eye.
In laboratory mice with corneal diseases, cocoa reduced the area of pathological blood vessel growth and lowered the level of inflammation and fibrosis markers. In mice with retinal problems, it helped maintain the outer retinal layer, reduced damage to supporting cells, and maintained the level of rhodopsin, a protein essential for the function of light-sensitive cells in the eye.
The researchers believe that cocoa may act as a dietary factor that modifies inflammatory and vascular processes associated with vision deterioration, but they noted that their study was conducted on cells and animals, so it is still too early to draw conclusions about a similar effect in humans, and clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Many health experts point out that cocoa contains antioxidants that fight inflammation, which helps maintain the health of arteries and vital organs in the body.
