Chocolate Cheer?

Is chocolate your heart’s delight? Let’s find out how good it exactly is for your heart…

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You may have heard news touting chocolate as a heart-healthy food. But before you indulge your sweet tooth too much, you need to put the reports in context. What’s really in each captivating chunk of chocolate?

When it comes to chocolate, what tastes good may be good for your heart, but moderation remains the rule.

RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS

Two recent studies have found that some chocolate products contain high levels of antioxidant flavonoids. These are plant-based compounds also present in black tea and some fruits and vegetables.

Flavonoids help limit the negative effects of lipoproteins (LDLs), components of the harmful kind of cholesterol. This may help protect arteries and prevent heart disease, stroke and atherosclerosis, a disease characterized by clogged arteries.

According to one of the study’s findings, the flavonoids present in chocolate – polyphenols – also inhibit the activity of platelets in blood. Platelets are helpful in clotting, but they can also be associated with heart attacks and strokes.

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS