Heart Health : Chocolate
There’s hardly a problem that chocolate can’t solve. It can even make your heart a little healthier. Research has shown that eating chocolate may lower blood pressure and cholesterol and even improve blood flow. The cocoa in chocolate is what makes it healthy. Like blueberries and red wine, cocoa beans contain antioxidants that can help fight heart disease. Unfortunately, the sugar, fat and milk often found in chocolate can add calories and diminish cocoa’s natural punch. So, when you’re buying chocolate, look for plain, dark chocolate with the most cocoa you can find – at least 40 to 60 percent. What’s best? Cocoa and chocolate made from cocoa marked nonalkalized. Alkalizing, or dutching, steals nutrients.
For more information on St. John’s events or to find a physician, visit stj.com or call St. John’s Referral One at 625.2000. And, to learn more about the integrated services and physicians available through the Sisters of Mercy Health System, log on to mercy.net.
