Staying Healthy

Dark chocolate protects arteries?

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Flavonoids in this guilty pleasure help blood flow.

Research has already shown that one or two ounces of dark chocolate daily can have beneficial effects in the short term, such as lowering blood pressure. However, the tasty treat is also high in calories and saturated fat. "You need to be conscious of other desserts or high-caloric foods. Just adding dark chocolate to your diet without taking out other foods can lead to weight gain," says Dr. Rimm. Bottom line: a little dark chocolate is safe and may be good for you, but it's no replacement for meaningful cardiovascular disease prevention.

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