More good news on the chocolate front - health matters - catechins in chocolate, black tea, and apples - Brief Article

Now there's another excuse to indulge in that piece of chocolate you've been squirreling away. According to a study conducted in the Netherlands, catechins (compounds found in black tea, apples and chocolate) may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Researchers in the Netherlands conducted a study to evaluate the association between catechins and heart disease and stroke, according to a report in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The researchers found that an increased intake of 50 mg of catechins was associated with a 25 percent decrease in risk of death from heart disease. Fifty milligrams of catechins is equivalent to one cup of black tea plus a small piece of dark chocolate or two large apples. The researchers did not, however, find an association between catechin intake and stroke.

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