Flavonol

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: Read More »