Try a little dark chocolate for your antioxidant health? Can this really be true? Dark chocolate has been found to be high in antioxidant flavonoids. Dove dark chocolate packs the highest wallop with their patented Cocoapro Cocoa, which is so high it’s used in medical research. So the answer is yes, a piece of dark chocolate really CAN assist in keeping the doctor away.
Why do we need flavonoids?
Most flavonoids function in the human body as antioxidants. They help neutralize overly reactive oxygen-containing molecules and prevent these overly reactive molecules from damaging parts of cells. Flavonoids in general help you maintain a healthy circulation. Healthy circulation allows your blood vessels to enlarge and shrink in response to your activities, delivering a steady supply of oxygenated blood and nutrients to your organs, muscles and tissues. Your heart, brain, eye health, exercise, alertness, and skin’s appearance all depend on healthy circulation.
What do high blood levels of flavonoids do?
They decrease the risk of heart disease, cancers, asthma and type 2 diabetes. It also decreases LDL (bad cholesterol) and increases HDL (good cholesterol). It has properties similar to aspirin in that it may stabilize arterial plaques – making them less likely to cause a stroke or heart attack.
So, how much chocolate can we have?
An ounce a day does the trick! More than that and you’re getting too much fat, sugar and calories therefore negating some of the otherwise healthy benefits.
FYI: 4 Dove Darks = 1 ounce (and approximately 125 calories; 8.6 g of fat; 12.6 g of sugar)
So here’s to your health and have a Happy Valentine’s Day!
~Sonia
P.S. Want to know where other foods fall in their flavonoid amounts…
Food Flavonoids (mg)
Dove Dark Chocolate (1.3 oz) 41
Other Dark Chocolate (1.3 oz) 20
Red wine, 4 oz. 16
Apple, small w/skin 9
Black tea, 6 oz. 5
**Source: Prevention 2/03 and various internet sites.