Chocolate Contains Useful Antioxidants
DC, 27 February 2002
to recent nutrition research, chocolate contains antioxidants that
can help reduce health risks.
Harvard University publication, the Harvard Women's Health Watch,
reports in its current issue on a recent study published in the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finding that diet
supplemented with chocolate products can slow oxidation of LDL or
"bad" cholesterol and can increase the level of HDL or "good" cholesterol.
dietary supplements added were cocoa powder and dark chocolate,
the Harvard health newsletter said. "Cocoa and chocolate, produced
from cacao beans, contain high amounts of polyphenols and other
flavonoids, naturally occurring antioxidants whose effects are associated
with reduced cardiovascular risk," it said.
research suggests that high levels of certain flavonoids found especially
in dark chocolate may slow blood platelet aggregation, another heart
health benefit. Chocolate also contains several important minerals.
And it doesn't cause acne."
in Switzerland also found that test volunteers who ate two chocolate
bars a day reduced the absorption of fat when their intake was accompanied
a two-week period, those who ate chocolate laced with calcium absorbed
13 percent less chocolate-derived fat (and 9 percent fewer calories)
than those who ate plain chocolate," the Harvard Women's Health
Watch reported. At the same time, LDL or "bad" cholesterol fell
by 15 percent.
publication explained that calcium apparently binds with the fatty
acids in chocolate, making those acids more difficult for the body
for the Future, via PRNewsWire.com, 27 February 2002. Based on study
published in the Harvard Women's Health Watch and the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition.