Crossing over to the Dark Side

Nobody needs an excuse to eat chocolate. But if ever you're looking for something to ease the guilt, this is it:

Researchers found eating 100g of dark chocolate each day for 15 days lowered blood pressure in the 15 person-study. The University of L'Aquila team also found the body's ability to metabolise sugar - a problem for people with diabetes - was improved. But eating the same quantities of white chocolate did not have an effect, the researchers said. The team said an antioxidant called flavanol was responsible for the effect because it neutralised potentially cell-damaging substances known as oxygen free radicals, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported.

But, to state the obvious:

Dark chocolate contains antioxidants, but also a lot of fat and calories. People who want to add some chocolate to their diet need to subtract an equivalents amount of calories by cutting back on other foods to avoid weight gain.

And coronary heart disease, I might add.

Source: Pakistan Tribune

Other links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3185363.stm
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/88/99702.htm
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/73/81921.htm