This is some food for thought. A component of Cocoa is in the limelight for the right reasons. The component, called Flavanoids, known to stave off new age diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease, can be used in medicines, according to stalwarts from the food and industry department , though such medicines are still a distant dream.

Flavonoids, is found in chocolates, green tea, vegetables and red wine. Budding research in this area seems to suggest that flavanoids can boost the working of blood vessels, and thus holds promise for treatment of other diseases like stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

While Big names in the pharmaceutical industry are displaying interest in such findings, the research being in a very nascent and speculative stage has fuelled little enthusiasm amongst pharmaceutical companies to stake big amounts on the technology, according to the experts who have got together for a cocoa conference in Washington.