Now you can let go of the guilt when you unwrap a sinfully-sweet-tasting bar of chocolate—as long as it’s dark chocolate. A study conducted by University of California researchers found that dark chocolate may help promote healthy blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease!
Just like green tea, black tea, red wine and blueberries, dark chocolate is high in flavonoids, which keep cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels. Study subjects who consumed dark chocolate every day for two weeks showed elevated levels of epicatechin (a plant flavonoid) and had better results when tested for blood vessel elasticity.
Unfortunately, dark chocolate is still high in fat and calories. So, for best health benefits, add it to your diet, but don’t go overboard. And, be sure to check with your favorite brand manufacturer on flavonoid content. Standard manufacturing destroys up to half the flavonoid content in dark chocolate—but there are some companies (like Dove & Endangered Species) who produce it with a large percent of flavonoids intact.
I've found some non-alkalized dark chocolate (70% cacao) that has helped my cholesterol and my mood.
If you're interested in more dark chocolate research, check out my blog.
Posted by: Choconut | December 12, 2007 at 10:32 PM