03/20/2014
THE QUESTION ON EVERY WOMAN'S MIND: IS CHOCOLATE AND WINE REALLY GOOD FOR MY HEART???
Eating chocolate to keep your heart healthy sounds like wishful thinking and, in a sense, it is. Cocoa does contain healthy plant compounds called flavonoids, which researchers think may help lower unhealthy LDL cholesterol, improve blood flow, and reduce blood pressure - all essential ingredients for preventing a heart attack or stroke.
Yet transforming cocoa into your favorite candy bar involves a large infusion of fat, sugar, and calories, which can lead to weight gain - a heart disease risk. "Chocolate in small to moderate portions can be helpful, but is far from a cure-all," says Roger S. Blumenthal, MD, director of the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease. If you indulge, eat small pieces and stick to dark chocolate (70% or higher cocoa content).
Now, about that glass of wine...this advice may be worth heeding. Studies show that a glass or two of red wine daily can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke by about 20% and might even improve longevity. But the same advice holds true for any type of liquor - including beer and spirits. Researchers believe alcohol may improve heart health by lowering LDL ("bad" cholesterol) and raising HDL ("good" cholesterol).
Just be careful not to over-imbibe. "Wine also has a lot of calories," Blumenthal cautions. And alcohol can increase certain health risks if you drink too much. One drink a day for women is plenty (one drink equals 4 ounces of wine, one beer, or 1.5 ounces of liquor).
“GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems”
Source: Web MD March/April 2014