What's the word on
chocolate? Is it a fatty sweet to be avoided, or a health food
to embrace?
HOW IT MAY HELP
Research has shown
that chocolate has properties that may help the heart. For
example, the cocoa in chocolate can help prevent blood clotting,
a cause of heart attacks. Cocoa can also help open up blood
vessels, easing blood flow and the heart's workload. Several
studies indicate that dark chocolate also contains B vitamins,
magnesium, potassium, copper and other heart-healthy substances.
HOW IT MAY HURT
The amount of
chocolate that's good for you is not clear. Plus, chocolate is
loaded with calories - 135 to 150 calories per ounce - so any
health benefits could be outweighed, literally, by extra weight
gain. It's also loaded with fat, although the fat is in forms
that are not harmful to the heart. Still, at 9 calories a gram,
fat in any form can pile on the pounds.
THE BOTTOM LINE?
Enjoy chocolate in
moderation. It's not a health food but can be part of a healthy
diet.