Cocoa on Shine

User post: Like-A-Dream Hot Chocolate

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I’ve tried every kind of hot chocolate that crosses my path, and happily spent most nights last winter in bed, sipping at something warm, and reading the very best string of books ever. But I think…

Valentine's Day Tips: 5 ways to indulge your sweet-tooth with heart-healthy chocolate

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You could practically hear women cheering in the streets when recent studies linked compounds in chocolate to heart health. But before you raid the candy aisle in the name of wellness, be aware that not all chocolate is rich in flavonols, the antioxidantlike superstars that earn the treat its good-for-you reputation. All chocolate foods, including cocoa powder and bars, are made from cacao beans. (Yes, cacao is spelled correctly.) However, "the way the beans in a product are processed makes or breaks its flavonol content," says Robyn Flipse, R.D., of Bradley Beach, New Jersey. Beans can lose flavonols when exposed to the extreme heat of production methods often used to render chocolate less bitter. Manufacturers aren't required to list flavonol content on their labels, so there's no easy way of knowing how much a nibble might contain. Follow these guidelines to up the odds that your next chocolate fix is beneficial for your ticker:

Dark chocolate is the new red wine

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Colleagues and I just published research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicating that both solid dark chocolate and liquid cocoa favorably influence blood pressure and blood flow in overweight adults. This is just the latest in a litany of findings that indicate if you choose dark...

Is all dark chocolate good for you?

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It's true that some dark chocolate is chock full of health benefits, but not all dark chocolate is created equal.According to nutritionist extrodinare, Joy Bauer, there are two things to look out for: cocoa content and fat content.