http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/30/dark-chocolate-health-cholesterol-blood-sugar_n_1452799.html?ref=healthy-living
Hooray! -- even
more research shows why dark chocolate (in moderation) has heart-healthy benefits.
Researchers from San Diego State University conducted a small controlled study illustrating that
eating dark chocolate has positive effects in lowering blood sugar levels and "bad" cholesterol levels and increasing "good" cholesterol levels -- all of which could have positive effects on heart health.
The study was presented at the
Experimental Biology 2012 meeting.
For the study, researchers had 31 people eat either 50 grams of regular dark chocolate (70% cocoa), dark chocolate (70% cocoa) that has been overheated, or white chocolate (0% cocoa). The study participants ate their assigned chocolate for a 15-day period; their blood glucose, circulating lipids, blood pressure and blood flow were all measured before and after the study.
But while the researchers found a positive effect of eating the dark chocolate in the study, they cautioned that chocolate is also high in saturated fat and calories, and must therefore be eaten in moderation.
