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Is Chocolate a New Health Food?

Coverlines on the latest magazines proclaim that eating chocolate can actually do your body good. Could that be true?

Researchers now say that some chocolate can be good for your heart. The question is: Should you indulge your chocolate cravings or save the calories?

The Chocolate-Heart Connection 
Chocolate is made from beans that contain plant chemicals called flavanols, which are antioxidants that may reduce blood platelet stickiness and blood clots, says Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD, a professor of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University. One study led by Dr. Kris-Etherton found that those with a diet rich in cocoa powder and dark chocolate had lower oxidation levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and higher total levels of HDL (good ) cholesterol.

Wise Buys
Don't buy the chocolate farm just yet--the stuff is dense in calories and fat. If you eat a chocolate bar, you'll have to eat lean meats, fat-free dairy products, and eliminate all other sources of high-fat foods to help you stay within your calorie limit for the day, says Dr. Kris-Etherton. And not all chocolate is created equal when it comes to antioxidants. A recent study by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service found that chocolate with the most cocoa powder also had the most antioxidants. For the consumer, this means that pure cocoa gives the biggest boost. And dark chocolate has significantly more flavonoids--specifically proanthocyanidins--than milk chocolate. According to the Mayo Clinic, a bar of dark chocolate contains an average of 53.5 milligrams (mg) of flavonoids, while a milk chocolate candy bar has less than 14 mg. White chocolate doesn't have any.

The Bottom Line 
The heart-health benefits of chocolate are still being explored, so it's too early to recommend consuming it for medicinal purposes. Instead, eat it because you enjoy it, but don't feel too guilty about it. Do watch your serving size, and work the calories into your daily allotment. Experiment with a bit of unsweetened cocoa powder in coffee, yogurt, cereal, and baking recipes. And don't forget your other options. Flavanol-rich foods include green and white teas, grapes, berries, apples, and red wine.