Turn to the dark side

Looking back on some of my recent posts, I realized that there has been too much negativity going on. While I do feel it is important to pass along research related to health complications and dangers, I sometimes feel like a purveyor of doom. So, in efforts to inject some positivity to my ramblings, I thought I'd mention something sweet. Well, semi-sweet, anyway.

Yet another study -- this time conducted at Johns Hopkins Univeristy -- found dark chocolate to be highly beneficial to circulation and overall heart health. The research, which was presented several months ago at the American Heart Association meeting, revealed a clear connection between the consumption of chocolate and the reduced risk of blood clots.

The flavonoids in chocolate affect how effectively platelets clump, thereby lowering an individual's risk of developing a clot. It also seems that the darker the chocolate, the higher the amount of flavonoids. Doctors suggest dark chocolate that contains at least 70% Cacao (it will say so on the packaging).