Chocolate, a healthy snack

　　The news couldn't get much better during the holida y season: Chocolate actually may be good for you. Natur ally occurring substances found in chocolate act as ant ioxidants and might help fight heart disease, claims ne w research.

　　It's important to remember that chocolate comes fro m the cacao bean, a plant-based food. One of the compou nds in chocolate is flavonoids. You find them in berrie s, red wine, green tea. Flavonoids are considered stron g antioxidants(抗癌化剂).

　　"We know that compounds in chocolate can be absorbe d into the blood," Keen says, "and… we see, following t he consumption of cocoa beverages, a reduction in the t endency for platelets to clot, similar to the effects o f taking a baby aspirin."

　　by Fran Berger