Chocolate Lovers May Be Hard-Wired That Way

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So, will the research help people avoid being fat? It's not clear yet, Kochhar said, but the research is a "first step" toward manipulating metabolisms to improve health.

The next step, he said, is to look at possible gender differences by studying women and doing more research into how diet can affect the germs in digestive systems.

Kochhar said women weren't included in the first study, because previous research had shown metabolic variations linked to the menstrual cycle. But the researchers plan to include women in future clinical trials on metabolic responses to chocolate to see if there's a gender-based reaction to the candy.

More information

Check an exhibit on the science of chocolate at exploratorium.edu.