Three Cheers for Chocolate The Health Benefits of Chocolate It
turns out there's even more to love about one of the most
decadent, satisfying foods on the planet. We're talking about
chocolate: Heavenly sweet treat, coveted comfort food, and
former diet disaster. But now? New studies are proving that
chocolate does, in fact, have a place in the health-conscious
kitchen. Research shows that cocoa and dark chocolate with a
high cocoa content contain flavonoids, a naturally occurring
phytonutrient found in plant foods like cocoa, tea, wine, nuts,
and certain fruits and vegetables. The main flavonoids found in
cocoa -- flavan-3-ols and procyanidins -- offer a host of
cardiovascular benefits, including antioxidant protection and
improved blood vessel function. "The flavonoids in chocolate are
generally touted for heart health -- they make blood less
sticky, keep blood vessels flexible, and there's less plaque
formation to prevent heart disease," says Dawn Jackson Blatner,
a Chicago-based registered dietitian and s