God bless you, science.
“Our study suggests that chocolate helps keep the heart’s blood vessels healthy,” said study author Dr. Chayakrit Krittanawong of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
“Chocolate contains heart-healthy nutrients, such as flavonoids, methylxanthines, polyphenols, and stearic acid, which can reduce inflammation and increase good cholesterol,” added Krittanawong.
All of those great words – flavonoids, methylxanthines, polyphenols, and stearic acids – are just a fancy way of saying that chocolate is packed with antioxidants that help reduce inflammation, improve blood flow, and increase mood and concentration.
Here’s another interesting thing about chocolate: Its antioxidant properties hold up over time. Unlike green tea, which degrades with shelf life, chocolate bars maintain their potency for at least 50 weeks, while cocoa beans and powder remain stable for 75 years.
Dark or milk chocolate
This new study reviewed more than five decades of studies and found that eating chocolate more than once a week was associated with an 8% decrease in the risk of coronary artery disease.
Previous studies have echoed that benefit. Cocoa consumption is associated with significantly lower cardiovascular and all-cause mortality (death from any cause). Helps prevent plaque from building up on the lining of blood vessels and reduces blood pressure. It has been shown to help prevent strokes and heart failure.
Many of the studies have focused on dark chocolate. This is because the darker the chocolate, the higher the percentage of cocoa solids, where all the good things are. But if dark chocolate is highly processed by a manufacturer, that profit may decrease. (Tip: To get the least processed cocoa powder, look for brands that haven’t been treated with an alkali to neutralize their natural acidity, usually called Dutch processing.)
Dark chocolate has a much lower sugar content and fewer calories than milk or white chocolate, because it is mixed with powdered or condensed milk. Therefore, your healthiest choice is likely to be caramel or raw dark chocolate and cocoa powder bars.
Does that mean you can eat dark chocolate as you like? Probably not a good idea, especially if you go for more fattening versions with caramel or walnuts. It’s best to enjoy a 1 ounce bite several times a week and focus on adding flavonoids to your diet with apples, tea, citrus fruits, onions, and berries.
“Moderate amounts of chocolate appear to protect the coronary arteries, but large amounts are unlikely to do so,” Krittanawong said. “Calories, sugar, milk and fats must be taken into account in the products available on the market, especially in diabetic and obese people.”
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