As yet another candy laden holiday rolls around, the mood of chocolate connoisseurs hovers between trepidation and glee. Chocolate lovers take heart! It’s not news that fruits, vegetables, and grains convey health benefits. And some of us have certainly heard that chocolate is good for our hearts. But, as the research continues, the good news about chocolate just keeps rolling in.

Your Heart Loves Chocolate: Chocolate’s primary heart health benefits are tied to flavonoids. Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds found in plant-based foods, which provide important protective benefits to plants, such as repairing damage and shielding from environmental toxins. When we consume plant-based foods rich in flavonoids, it appears that we also benefit from this antioxidant power. Antioxidants are believed to help the body’s cells resist damage caused by free radicals, formed by normal bodily processes such as breathing or environmental contaminants like cigarette smoke. When the body lacks adequate levels of antioxidants, free radical damage ensues, leading to increases in LDL-cholesterol oxidation and plaque formation on arterial walls.

In addition to their antioxidant capabilities, flavonoids also:

1. Are thought to help reduce platelet activation;
   
2. May affect the relaxation capabilities of blood vessels (helping to lower blood pressure);
   
3. May positively affect the balance of hormone-like compounds called eicosanoids, which are thought to play a role in cardiovascular health;
   
4. May weaken heart attacks, decreasing the risk of death following a heart attack.
   

Chocolate Makes You Smarter: Ample research suggests that the flavonols in dark chocolate increase cerebral blood flow, which in turn may trigger the creation of new blood vessels and brain cells.

Chocolate Helps Build Strong Teeth?: Some interesting new research shows a compound in chocolate – theobromine – may be just as good as fluoride at hardening tooth enamel. Do keep in mind that most commercially prepared chocolate has lots of sugar in it.

Dark chocolate appears to contain the highest level of flavonoids (polyphenols), so your best bet is to choose dark chocolate over milk chocolate. It’s important to be aware of the calories and fat in chocolate, but you may be surprised to know that about two thirds of the fat found in chocolate is heart healthy fat. So indulge in moderation, and embrace the bunny!