for your heart , but moderation remains the rule .
RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS
Two recent studies have found that some chocolate products contain high levels of antioxidant flavonoids . These are plant-based compounds also present in black tea and some fruits and vegetables .
Flavonoids help limit the negative effects of lipoproteins ( LDLs ), components of the harmful kind of cholesterol . This may help protect arteries and prevent heart disease , stroke and atherosclerosis , a disease characterized by clogged arteries .
According to one of the study ’ s findings , the flavonoids present in chocolate – polyphenols – also inhibit the activity of platelets in blood . Platelets are helpful in clotting , but they can also be associated with heart attacks and strokes .
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
The studies , while promising , do leave some unanswered questions . Neither study addresses how much chocolate you need to eat to achieve heart-healthy benefits from its flavonoids . Because chocolate is high in calories and sugar and low in fibre , it ’ s considered unhealthy to eat chocolate in the same quantities that you might eat other flavonoid-rich foods , such as fruits and vegetables .
In addition , the studies did not test chocolate ’ s long-term heart benefits . Further , not all chocolates are created equal when it comes to flavonoids . Among chocolate products , the darker it is , the higher it ’ s likely to be in flavonoids .
A 3.5-ounce serving of dark chocolate ( about the size of two average chocolate bars ) was found to contain 53.5 mg of flavonoids . The same serving of milk chocolate contains 15.9 mg , and a cup of hot chocolate drink has about half that much .
White chocolate contains no flavonoids . An 8-ounce glass of black tea , by contrast , was found to contain 37 mg of flavonoids .
The chocolate manufacturing process accounts for the varying levels of flavonoids . Chocolate products are derived from cocoa beans . To be made into their final product , though , varying amounts of cocoa powder , cocoa
Two recent studies have found that some chocolate products contain high levels of antioxidant flavonoids , which help limit the negative effects of lipoproteins components of the harmful kind of cholesterol . Among chocolate products , the darker it is , the higher it ’ s likely to be in flavonoids .
HEALTH & NUTRITION February 2018 51