DARK CHOCOLATES LESSEN HEART RISK

Yes, it's true. While this might not be new to some of you, chocolates can help you avoid heart attacks and strokes. Chocolates lower the chance by 40%. Previous studies already suggested that chocolates, notably dark chocolates, play a role, but only the study by German researchers, who observed nearly 20,000 people for eight years, is the only study that tracked its effects over a long period of time.

So how do these chocolates help?

Chocolates contain flavonols, which are also found on vegetables and red wines. FYI, flavonols are chemical compounds responsible for each and every flavor that we can taste on chocolates, vegetables and red wines. Without them, nobody will enjoy eating a chocolate. I personally wonder what would it taste like without flavonols. TASTELESS of course! How dumb of me.


APRIL FOOLS ! ! ! ! !


No, flavonols are not the source of flavors. Did you fell for that? Ha ha. Well, the real thing about flavonols is that it help the muscles in our blood vessels widen, which is a good thing, of course - it causes a drop in blood pressure which ultimately leads to lesser chances of having heart attacks and strokes.


BUT WAIT! That doesn't mean that if you're eating large amounts of chocolate, you lower your chance of suffering from these heart problems [pain from a relationship-went-wrong isn't one of these heart problems, mind you]. It will lead to weight gain, which is, undoubtedly, one of the major risk factor for heart problems. ^_^


You didn't see that coming, eh?


Here are some of what experts said.


"It's a bit too early to come up with recommendations that people should eat more chocolate, but if people replace sugar or high-fat snacks with a little piece of dark chocolate, that might help." 
-Brian Buijsse, the lead author of the study and a nutritional epidemiologist 


"The relationship between chocolate and good health outcomes is still uncertain. "If somebody really enjoys eating chocolate, then they should have a small amount of that and just really enjoy it."
-Alice Lichtensein, a nutritionist


So are you confused now?


Guess we're on the same boat, then.


So go, my dear readers, placidly amid the confusion and grab a Toblerone dark chocolate bar and feel the presence of flavonols invading the muscles of your blood vessels.

I personally love the Toblerone dark chocolate. Really. I mean, I can have it for breakfast, lunch, and even for supper! It's just that I'm a poor guy. :)


Indulge!


TRIVIA : Did you know that white chocolates are really not chocolates? White chocolates  contain cocoa butter, sugar, and milk but no cocoa solids. Without the cocoa solids, it is not a chocolate, as defined by the US Food and Drug Administration. So what should its name be? I say, white temptation. What say you? Post a comment for your suggestions - it will be extremely appreciated. ^_^

Okay I admit it. I'm the black sheep among chocolates. I do not belong. Nobody wanted my presence in the first place anyway. I'll just go and be with my coffee bean friends. :(