Good News for Chocolate Lovers
Here's good news about a food that many of us love: chocolate. Recent research suggests that chocolate actually may protect you from heart disease.
Chocolate comes from the cocoa bean, which contains antioxidants called flavonoids. Antioxidants are substances that protect the body's cells. Flavonoids are a specific type of antioxidant that is par-ticularly potent.
Earlier research focused on other foods that are high in flavonoids, such as tea and red wine. These were linked to a lower rate of heart disease. Milk chocolate has a similar flavonoid level. Dark chocolate has significantly more. The flavonoids help your heart by reducing "bad" cholesterol. This is the cholesterol that can lead to hardening of the arteries.
Of course, a balanced diet that contains a variety of fruits and vegetables is the ideal source of antioxidants. But the next time you include a small serving of chocolate in your healthy eating plan, you can feel good about it!
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