Healthy (Chocolate) Heart

Can buying a box of chocolates for your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day be Heart Healthy?  Maybe so, if you select dark chocolate over milk chocolate.  Recent studies have shown that an antioxidant called flavanol, found in dark chocolate, is beneficial in neutralizing the potentially cell-damaging substances known as oxygen free radicals.  This antioxidant effect lessens plaque formation on arterial walls.  Be cautious though.  No established serving size of chocolate has been identified as of yet.  Other foods high in flavonoids are as follows:

Apples

Peanuts

Onions

Tea

Red Wine

Cranberries

This tip is was written by Karen Eastman and sponsered by the Center for Excellence in Diabetes at NCH Hospital

It doesn't cost alot to check your heart health

for the price of a deductible you can get your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar screened

Come to the Active Living Workshop

to view this flyer and more information go to www.healthycollier.org