Do Cocoa Help Heart Health ?

Antioxidants in cocoa might help your heart by keeping your blood vessels relaxed, thus easing blood pressure and helping circulation.

The study shows that cocoa's antioxidants -- called flavonoids -- coax the body into making more nitric oxide, which relaxes the blood vessels.

Chocolate also contains flavonoids, but the problem with chocolate is the burden of fat it carries...

What are flavonoids ??

Flavonoids are water-soluble plant pigments that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can counteract damage to tissues.

Students from UCLA made the conclusion based on a study of the dietary habits of smokers with and without lung cancer.

The flavonoids that appeared to be most effective were catechin (found in strawberries and green and black teas), kaempferol (Brussels sprouts and apples) and quercetin, (beans, onions and apples).

Flavonoids may protect against lung cancer by stopping the development of blood vessels that tumors need to grow and spread.

They may also stop cancer cells from growing, allowing a naturally programmed cell death, or apoptosis, to occur.