A New Study Establishes The Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of Cocoa

Good news for all of you chocolate lovers out there! New research has been recently published in The Journal of Nutrition regarding the cholesterol-lowering ability of chocolate. Cocoa powder, which is an ingredient in chocolate, is rich in polyphenols, which are antioxidants that have been noted to raise HDL cholesterol and lower LDL cholesterol. Polyphenols also reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol, which is thought to increase one's risk for atherosclerosis. Although this information isn't new, it further emphasizes the role that polyphenols may play in lowering cholesterol.