Some of this information from: The Globe and Mail newspaper,

November 15/2006

Dark chocolate may be just what the doctor ordered. A new study reveals that eating a few squares every day can improve the health of your heart.

The chemical in cocoa beans has a similar biochemical effect to aspirin and can reduce the likelihood of blood clotting, according to reseaschers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Eating a small amount of dark chocolate each day can almost halve the risk of a heart attack.

Studies showed that the chemical in cocoa beans has a biochemical effect similar to aspirin in reducing platelet clumping, which can be fatal if a clot forms and blocks a blood vessel, causing a heart attack.

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I love chocolate, so now I don't feel so bad about having it.

Love,
yoko

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Choko yoko!

Precious information, dear Yoko! Thank you!

Just today I bought a little book with chocolate recipes as a Christmas gift ... dark dark beauty what fascination!

Just a moment please .... here I am! I just surrendered to the desire of having some chocolate! mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Someday I will have to write an Ode to chocolate!

Teolove! Choko Yoko!
Love and sweet hugs!
Margherita

Thank you yoko,


This is wonderful and delicious news. Whatever would I do without chocolate? I have read similar reports in other newspapers and magazines.

Dear Margherita,
You did write an ode to chocolate:

quote:

Teolove! Choko Yoko!
Love and sweet hugs

Now we can enjoy wothout feeling guilty

Who would want to bite into this beautiful chocolate creation?

Thank you Teo.
I see even the Asians are into the chocolates



Margherita, you are right, having chocolate is mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm



And I am not sure if I want to be the first one do break that chocolate sculpture
I think that I will let Inda be the first, even if it makes my mind say mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm



Now I will enjoy the rest of Sunday with my chocolates.

Have a nice day.

Love,
yoko

Dear friends,
I think just coming in here enjoying this thread activates the benefits of chocolate!
Thinking of ...


mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ...
I will sleep well, having a sweet thought will bring sweet dreams!

Love to all!
Margherita

Thank you yoko for bringing back the benefits of chocolate. I am a chocolate addict myself, so here is some for all of us to start the day.

I love the chocolate artwork Inda and Margherita.

Wherever did you find Japanese chocolates Teo?

Thank you everyone for the beautiful chocolate images.
This is just the thing I need now to give me a bit of energy.

Have a mmmmmmmmmmmchoco day.

Love,
Sue

Thank you for the good news about chocolate. I also have a weakness for it. So let us all enjoy it. I love chocolate especially with my coffee.

Sincerely,
Gisele

Thank you all for your replies and your wonderful images.

I have enjoyed a bit of dark chocolate all week.

Love,
yoko

It is this time of the year again We are consuming all sorts of goodies , but chocolate in moderation is still good for you.




Why is Dark Chocolate Healthy?:
Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries). Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body.

Heart Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate:
Dark chocolate is good for your heart. A small bar of it everyday can help keep your heart and cardiovascular system running well. Two heart health benefits of dark chocolate are:

Lower Blood Pressure: Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.
Lower Cholesterol: Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.

Other Benefits of Dark Chocolate:
Chocolate also holds benefits apart from protecting your heart:

it tastes good
it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure
it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant
it contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants

http://longevity.about.com/od/...tion/p/chocolate.htm

Enjoy

Thank you for bringing back yoko's post.

It is definitely the season for chocolate.

Enjoy!

Love,
Vicky

Enjoy your chocolate, however it comes.

I think that this post is just right for Easter.




Enjoy the benefits of chocolate.

Love,
Vicky