Chocolate may repair blood vessels
Speaking of your blood vessels, a recent study has actually shown that getting your chocolate fix a few times a week can actually improve how your blood vessels function and even fix aging blood vessels.
In the study, that was rich in flavonols four to six days out of the week. (Flavonols are antioxidants that occur naturally in plant-based beverages, like cocoa, but also wine and tea. They also guard against oxidation caused by free radicals, which ultimately leads to inflammation.)
They found 34 adults (15 under 50 and 19 older than 50) to drink this beverage (provided by Mars Inc.) every day. While monitoring the cocoa drinkers, researchers noticed that the drink actually improved their blood vessel function, and that the older adults in the study were actually reaping the most benefits.
(Age plays a big role in blood vessel health and deterioration.)
Hold on though. Don't reach for that Snickers or 3 Musketeers bar just yet. Not just any chocolate will do, but especially not mass-produced, commercial chocolate loaded with artificial sweeteners and fat.
When it comes to gleaning antioxidants, your best bet will always be dark chocolate. And if you're not a chocolate lover, try a nice glass of red wine. And remember: four to six times a week gives the best results.
For more information about the health benefits of chocolate, check out the premier issue of my newsletter.
