Italian study says sweet treat may be prescription for heart health

By Regina Harris
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

“I never made dessert when I lived in my house,” says Ginger Kotz of Sedgebrook. “Now, I get to eat dessert!”

Like Ginger, Americans favor dessert over any other part of a meal, and when asked to choose their favorite dessert, the majority say: anything with chocolate. Fifty-two-percent of Americans prefer chocolate to any other flavor, according to a survey by the National Confectioners Association. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Americans each consume 24 pounds of the candy each year, especially around Valentine’s Day.

Fortunately, there may be good news for dessertlovers and chocoholics. An increasing number of new studies suggest that the sweet treat may actually be good for you.

Disease-fighting candy bars
Recently, an Italian study found that eating 100 grams of dark chocolate a day for 15 days lowered blood pressure in research subjects. As a possible explanation, researchers point out that chocolate is packed with antioxidants, substances which protect against heart disease and even cancer by absorbing harmful free radicals, which can damage or even kill cells.

When choosing between candy bars, researchers say reach for the dark chocolate. A bar of dark chocolate weighing approximately 1.5 oz contains 950 mg of antioxidants, while a similar bar of milk chocolate has just 400 mg, not to mention plenty of processed fat, sugar, and oil.

Although most medical health professionals recommend a diet high in antioxidants, some caution that the sugar and fat found in chocolate, even dark chocolate, outweigh the health benefits.