Simple Pleasures Can Be HealthyPosting Date: 11/21/2005 Perhaps the greatest indulgence of all is chocolate. Some people find it hard to accept that chocolate could have health benefits. Yet the evidence keeps accumulating. Researchers in Italy found that dark chocolate lowers blood pressure and helps improve the response to insulin (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 2005). Enhanced insulin sensitivity may lower the risk of type-2 diabetes. Previous studies have shown that cocoa compounds improve blood vessels? flexibility and keep blood platelets from clumping together to form clots. Some data indicate that dark chocolate may raise good HDL cholesterol and prevent the bad cholesterol from promoting atherosclerosis. We discuss research on chocolate, offer guidelines on selecting healthful chocolate and tell how to make lower-fat, lower-calorie chocolate desserts in our cookbook, Chocolate Without Guilt. To order a copy, visit the Web site www.peoplespharmacy.com or send $18.95 to: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. CWG, Durham, NC 27717-2027. Just because something tastes good doesn?t mean it is bad for you. Some simple pleasures can be healthy. * * * Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. © 2005 King Features Syndicate, Inc. Related Stories |
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