Blood And Chocolate

Most of us love chocolate, but did you know that chocolate is good for you? New evidence suggests that eating a little chocolate may help prevent blockage of arteries, heart attack causing blood clots. The truth is, there are healthy and unhealthy chocolates and it is important to select those that are heart healthy.

At a recent U.S. survey, researchers found that clots more slowly in the blood of chocolate lovers than those who rarely ate chocolate. Some chocolates are yet full of sugar and fat. These include marshmallow coated with chocolate heart, chocolate covered cherries and solid milk chocolate hearts and drops. A little chocolate is made with commercial corn syrup, high fructose and should be avoided if you are concerned about their health.

The secret is to eat dark chocolate containing a high percentage of cocoa beans. The center of the cocoa bean is the pen and cocoa beans contain chemicals called flavonoids. These are believed to have similar blood thinning effects of
aspirin. Dark chocolate, which is lower in sugar and fat chocolate milk is the healthy way to enjoy this special treatment and as an added bonus, protect your heart.

Research conducted at Tufts University has led to a discovery that dark chocolate improves insulin sensitivity. This is great news for type 2 diabetes, because millions of people take expensive medications on a daily basis to increase their sensitivity to insulin. Besides boosting insulin sensitivity, there is evidence of pure research that dark chocolate can lower blood pressure, improve blood vessel function and reduce LDL (bad cholesterol).

According to Dr. Janet Bond Brill, author of "cholesterol", "Dark chocolate is the best nutrition news to come over the years."

Dr. Joe Vinson, a chemistry professor at the University of Scranton, said: "The flavonoid antioxidants that work to protect us against free radical damage and cocoa consumption reduces your risk for heart disease.

With age, arteries become less flexible, which makes it difficult for blood to flow through them. This raises blood pressure. The flavonoids in dark chocolate boost levels of nitric acid, keeping your arteries flexible and increasing blood flow to vital organs more easily.

A 2003 study published in the Journal of American Medical Association supports this proposal. According to their research, chocolate has helped to promote healthy levels of blood pressure in subjects. Chocolate helps relax blood vessels so blood can flow through easier.

Like all good things, moderation is the key to dark chocolate and premium chocolate is that the offer many health benefits. It contains a higher percentage of cocoa than milk chocolate. Avoid mass-produced, highly processed sugary chocolates. "Chocolate is a delicious form of medicine," says Brill. "But as with any medication, overdose can cause unpleasant side effects."

I like chocolate but it had to severely restrict my intake of chocolate milk because of congestion problems. Dark chocolate reduces this problem and provides greater health benefits, while maintaining the taste delicious chocolate. My wife and I enjoy a mint tea in good health after our evening meal. Two or three pieces of chocolate to complete perfection.