Chocoholics Rejoice!
A new study suggests that chocolate may actually be good for you. Researchers have discovered that some chocolate and cocoa are high in flavonoids, compounds found in plants that promote healthy cellular tissue throughout the body. According to Carl Keen, a professor of nutrition and internal medicine at the University of California, Davis, "The concentration greatly exceeds what you'll find in most fruits and vegetables."
His team found that cocoa reduced the tendency for blood platelets to clump together, a process that can cause small particles to break off in the bloodstream and that it also slowed down blood coagulation. These are both important in preventing blood clots that can contribute to heart attacks and stroke.
Finding flavonoid-rich chocolate and cocoa can sometimes be difficult since some processing decreases its concentration. A symbol on the label showing a few fingers holding a cocoa bean, indicates the product has gone through flavonoid-friendly processing. However, others without this label may also be high in flavonoids.
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| Title |
Chocoholics Rejoice! |
| Source |
Active woman Canada (Georgetown, Ont.) |
| Publisher |
Mill Pond Publishing Inc. |
| Volume (Issue) |
2(6) |
| Date |
Nov/Dec 2004 |
| Pages |
1 |
| SIRC Article # |
S-963100 |
This material has been copied under license from the Publisher. Any resale for profit or further copying is strictly prohibited.
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