As if we needed another reason to love chocolate anymore than we already do, a new dark chocolate which helps protect your heart could be on sale imminently.
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Test show that Acticoa, made by chocolatier Barry Callebaut increases the elasticity of blood vessels by up to 2%, reported The Daily Mail. This means blood flows more easily, which in turn can help prevent heart attacks.
Even before the tests, chocolate has (sort of) been accepted as being good for the heart - specifically dark chocolate because it contains the highest amount of flavanoids which are an antioxidant, that in turn protect the body.
Some sceptics however say that the high fat and sugar content in most chocolate greatly outweigh any benefits it may have.
A spokesman for the company, Marijke De Brouwer said: "This is not about artificially adding a nutrient – it is about preserving what is already present in cocoa."
The Daily Telegraph reported Richard Hurrell, Professor of Human Nutrition at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, as saying: "There is quite a lot of evidence that cocoa flavonols have a positive effect on the blood flow."
Barry Callebaut has a 7,500 strong workforce in 26 countries and supplied chocolate bigwigs like Cadbury and Thorntons.
Take a look at the top 10 foods to boost your heart:
