Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Tea and (Dark) Chocolates

We've been reporting for a while that chocolate (particularly dark chocolate) has some major health benefits. But have you ever wondered why that is?

Turns out, the sweet treat actually works with the microbes in our stomachs to promote specific health benefits. Specifically, "beneficial bacteria that reside toward the end of our digestive tract ferment both the antioxidants and the fiber in cocoa."

Neat!

Also neat?

Earl Grey tea may actually be better at reducing your cholesterol than oft-prescribed (and much more expensive) statins:

"Researchers from Italy’s University of Calabria explained that the tea contains extracts of a Mediterranean citrus fruit called bergamot, which is made of enzymes known as Hydroxy Methyl Glutaryl Flavonones (HGMF)."

Yes, that's a mouthful, but it seems that this HGMF helped to increase "good" cholesterol and reduce the "bad."

Now about those scones....

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