According to an article on Beliefnet, chocolate actually can have a positive effect on your health. They say the cocoa has phenols and flavnoids which are natural anti-oxidants, which help to keep the body's free radicals in balance. If your body has too many free radicals, it can cause diseases such as cancer, and heart disease.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, found three ways flavnoids can reduce the risk of heart disease:
- They prevent bad cholesterol from oxidizing and clogging arteries.
- They help the body maintain its levels of antioxidants such as vitamins E and C.
- They act on the body's platelets to reduce the risk of clotting.
Now, the cocoa bean also has cocoa butter which is the natural source of fat. And, milk chocolate which is the most popular with consumers, also contains 20% milk fat in addition to the cocoa butter fat. But the next time the guilt sets in because you're eating that Hershey bar, remember, you could be reducing your risk of heart disease!
I LIKE it....but I'll make mine a Lindors bar, please!
Posted by: eleanor joyce | May 16, 2006 12:51 PM | Permalink to Comment