A sweet “treat” that won’t destroy your heart!

If you overindulged in sweets over the holidays, don’t fret…

And don’t feel like you can’t touch the stuff the rest of this year.

Because today I’ve got the scoop on a way to harness better heart health. And it involves your sweet tooth!

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that incorporating cocoa into your diet can lead to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease-related death.

Yep, the same cocoa that’s used to make chocolate!

But, before you start dipping your hand into the candy jar, there’s a catch…

This cocoa isn’t found in your average Kit-Kat or Milky Way candy bar.

It’s the flavanols unique to the cocoa bean—specifically epicatechin.

The study of over 21,000 adults found that those who consumed 500 mg of cocoa flavanols a day reduced their risk of cardiovascular death by 27%.

Again, it’s important to remember that these findings are specific to cocoa beans.

But dark chocolate (which is made from the seed of the cocoa tree) is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that can positively affect your heart.

In fact, one study found that eating dark chocolate more than five times per week lowered the risk of heart disease by 57%!

When I shop for dark chocolate, I always opt for the quality stuff. It contains less sugar and provides the most brain-boosting bang for your buck.

Read the label to make sure it has at least 70% (or higher) cocoa content. That will ensure you’re getting the proper amount of flavanols from the cocoa beans.

Just remember, dark chocolate is still very calorie-dense, so be sure to stick to the serving size listed on the label.

The sweeter way to a healthy heart,

Cory Templeman
Senior Editor, eAlert

Sources:

Manaker, Lauren. “Cocoa Supplements Could Help Your Heart, Study Shows.” https://www.verywellhealth.com/cocoa-flavanols-heart-health-5272118

Gunnars, Kris. “7 Proven Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate.” https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate