Chocolate and wine lovers can now rejoice— scientists confirm eating dark chocolate and drinking red wine could prevent aging.

You've probably heard or read about the health benefits of dark chocolate and red wine. Well, combining the two is delicious and fancy yet healthy.

The health benefits of wine and chocolate come from a natural chemical compound called resveratrol, a polyphonic bioflavonoid antioxidant naturally found in red grapes, dark berries, red wine, and raw cocoa.

A study published in the BMC Cell Biology journal found that red wine and dull chocolate contain chemicals similar to resveratrol that can rejuvenate old body cells, helping you live longer.

The researchers were led by Lorna Harris, a professor of molecular genetics at the University of Exeter, and the first author of the paper was Dr. Eva Latorre, a research associate at the university.

Splicing factors

The study is based on earlier research, which reported that as we age, splicing factors — which are types of protein— becomes inactive. And consuming foods or beverages with "resveralogues" or resveratrol-like chemicals reactivates them, rejuvenating old body cells.

Dr. Latorre noted:

"When I saw some of the cells in the culture dish rejuvenating, I couldn't believe it. These old cells were looking like young cells. It was like magic. I repeated the experiments several times, and in each case, the cells rejuvenated. I am very excited by the implications and potential of this research."

Seniors might now live healthy for their 'Whole life'

According to Prof. Harries, an increase in resveratrol in the body opens a possibility for older people to enjoy their health longer in life:

"The findings demonstrate that when you treat old cells with molecules that restore the levels of the splicing factors, the cells regain some features of youth. They are able to grow, and their telomeres — the caps on the ends of the chromosomes that shorten as we age — are now longer, as they are in young cells."

"We were quite surprised by the magnitude of the findings. This is a first step in trying to make people live normal lifespans, but with health for their entire life."

Researchers have also shown that resveratrol boosts health in numerous other ways:

It lowers blood pressure

Improves blood flow

Raises HDL and protects LDL from oxidation

Reduces the heart disease risk

Protects the skin from sun damage

Boosts the function of the brain

This substance also lowers the risks of diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity. It also helps in digestion and energizing the body.

Red wine alone offers countless other health benefits

Its consumption, according to Adda Bjarnadottir, MS, is linked to:

Reduced risk of dementia: Drinking 1–3 glasses of wine per day has been linked to a reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease

Reduced risk of depression: A study of middle-aged and elderly people showed that those who drank 2–7 glasses of wine per week were less likely to become depressed

Lessened insulin resistance: Drinking 2 glasses per day of regular or dealcoholized red wine for 4 weeks may reduce insulin resistance

A 100-gram bar of dark chocolate, on the other hand, with 70 to 85 percent cocoa contains:

58 percent of the RDI for magnesium

67 percent of the RDI for iron

89 percent of the RDI for copper

98 percent of the RDI for manganese

11 grams of fiber

It also contains high amounts of zinc, potassium, selenium and phosphorus.