Articles of Interest

Chocolate good for you, doctors say

MSNBC NEWS SERVICES

 

 

GLASGOW, Scotland, Sept. 3 —  A bite of good news from a candy maker to chocoholics: The treat once uncovered by Aztecs and now gobbled by millions not only tastes delicious but is healthy for you, according to new research.
CHOCOLATE CONTAINS COMPOUNDS called flavonoids that can help maintain a healthy heart and good circulation and reduce blood clotting — which can cause heart attacks and stroke.
       “More and more, we are finding evidence that consumption of chocolate that is rich in flavonoids can have positive cardiovascular effects,” Carl Keen, a nutritionist at the University of California, Davis, said at a science conference. Keen’s research was funded by and conducted in conjunction with confectionery maker Mars Inc.
       “We not only have observed an increase in antioxidant capacity after chocolate consumption, but also modulation of certain compounds which affect blood vessels,” he said.
       Antioxidants such as vitamin C reduce the damage of cancer-causing charged particles in the body.

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A Valentine for Chocolate Lovers

By Katrina Woznicki

A Valentine for Chocolate Lovers       When you tear into that heart-shaped box and bite into a luscious piece of rich chocolate, don't feel guilty about what you might be doing to your waistline. Instead, think about what you may be doing for your health.
      A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that chocolate may not be the devil's food after all. Studies from Europe and the United States, two regions known for their inhabitants' love of chocolate, find that this candy may provide a variety of benefits, from increasing longevity to reducing the risks of heart disease and -- no surprise here -- improving mood.

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