Chocolate (Dark)

Anti-inflammatory. Antioxidant. Blood pressure reduction. Cardiovascular health. Eat chocolate and live longer. This sounds great, and it may very well be true. Dark chocolate with cocoa content of 60% or greater, is in general a highly concentrated source of bioflavonoid antioxidants. Animal studies suggest that the flavanols in dark chocolate can prevent coronary artery disease and reduce the impact of heart attacks. While much remains to be elucidated about the health effects of chocolate, the available evidence makes a strong case for the inclusion of dark chocolate in a healthful diet and a decisive case for substitution of dark chocolate for milk chocolate. Dark chocolate may be one of the exceptions to the old adage, " if it's good, it can't be good for you". The trick is not to eat too much, as the high calories from chocolate may offset the health benefits. (see the anti-inflammatory pyramid for advice on this)