Chocolate's dark health secret

EARLY REPORTS that chocolate has health benefits are now being bolstered by new research. In a joint study at the University of Glasgow and the National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome, researchers found that chocolate eaters had significantly higher levels of disease-fighting antioxidants in their blood after consuming 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces) of the sweet stuff. But there's a catch: Only dark chocolate does the trick. When the study subjects ate milk chocolate, they didn't get nearly as big of a rise in antioxidants, nor did antioxidants spike when they ate dark chocolate accompanied by a glass of milk. Seems the healthiest chocolate is dark chocolate eaten all by its lonesome. Of course, fruits and vegetables have antioxidants, too, and unlike chocolate, they come with additional nutrients and fewer calories. But it's nice to know that when you do indulge in chocolate, it's not a completely unhealthful venture.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group