It's the news you've always dreamed about - consuming chocolate can actually be good for you. Yes, it's true. That's because dark chocolate contains substances called flavonols. But what, exactly, are flavonols? They are a type of flavonoid that have antioxidant properties. That means they are substances that are good for you and can have a positive impact on your overall health. These substances are found in many different foods. Most of them are plant-based. There are flavonoids in broccoli, kale, and red wine. (They must already know about the benefits of flavonoids in Italy, where red wine is readily available at every meal!)
The benefits of these substances can be seen throughout the human body. They can help support the cardiovascular system, which results in improved blood flow. Supporting and improving brain health and memory is another reason to make sure you are eating a balanced diet that ensures that you get enough flavonoids from different sources. This can be extremely important as we are growing older. Memory issues and cardiovascular symptoms can be quite common in the elderly, but perhaps eating a balanced diet with high amounts of flavonoids that contain possibly something beneficial might go toward lessening the chances of certain diseases.
Although preliminary research shows that flavonol benefits may produce similar blood flow tendencies as exercise does, they shouldn't be counted on as some type of miracle cure. And the whole concept about flavonoid benefits needs more research. Keep in mind that while there's little doubt that chocolate tastes delicious, ingesting high amounts of it isn't going to lead to perfect health by any means. A solid way to stay (or get) healthy is to take action by getting plenty of exercise and eating a balanced diet.
What we need to remember is that there isn't a miracle substance that will give us perfect health. The simple fact that eating fresh fruits and vegetables and eating less processed foods will help our bodies stay strong. And many of those fresh fruits and vegetables are great sources of flavonols - nature's boost to health.