IS CHOCOLATE GOOD FOR YOUR HEART?

No longer need to feel guilty if you enjoy a small piece of dark chocolate once in a while. Enjoy moderate portions of chocolate (e.g., 1 ounce) a few times per week . Don’t forget to eat other flavonoid-rich foods like apples, red wine, tea, onions and cranberries. Cocoa bean is rich in a class of plant nutrients called flavonoids. Flavonoids - found in a variety of foods, such as fruits and vegetables. When we eat foods rich in flavonoids, it appears that we also benefit from this "antioxidant" power. Flavanols have other potential influences on vascular health, such as lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow to the brain and heart, and making blood platelets less sticky and able to clot.