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Sadly, there is bad news for chocolate lovers.
Most have heard about the report by the American Heart Association indicating the benefits associated with eating dark chocolate. They found that a group of heart transplant patients who were given a dose of chocolate had better blood flow, vascular function, and less clotting just two hours after eating the chocolate compared to patients given a non-chocolate product.
But, a new report by the Lancet editorial might just be a reality check for those sweet-toothed individuals raiding the shelves for chocolate in the name of healthy heart care. The component of chocolate that led to those beneficial findings in heart patients is an antioxidant called flavanol. The bad news….The flavanol found in chocolate often contains an unpleasant and bitter taste. As a result, many of the world’s candy makers strip the chocolate of this healthy component naturally found in chocolate. Worse yet, most labeling does not indicate what the percentage, if any, of flavanol can be found in the chocolate product.
So, your best bet would be to sink your teeth into darker chocolate with fewer ingredients added. Other foods containing healthy antioxidants include teas, red wine and some fruits and vegetables.
Remember, everything in moderation! Read more about this latest report at the link below.
Jerri, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
You never know what you can do, unless you try!
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