Cocoa Helps Lower Cholesterol, Inflammation

With Halloween just around the corner, some of us may have candy on our minds. But if you're following any type of heart-healthy, cholesterol-lowering diet, candy may be on your list of "forbidden foods." Well, there's good news that comes out of all of this - especially for all of those chocolate lovers out there. A new study has found that the cocoa found in chocolate may be heart-healthy.

This isn't actually new to us, but this most recent study comes at the most candy-entrenched holiday of the year. The study, which was published today in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, examined 42 individuals ingesting skim milk or plain mild mixed with 40 grams of unsweetened cocoa powder daily. They found that individuals ingesting the cocoa and milk mixture had reduced inflammatory markers, and an increase in their HDL. Inflammation has been linked to contributing to the formation of atherosclerosis, which can eventually limit - or completely obstruct - blood flow to vital organs of the body.

But if you're going to use this study as an excuse to indulge in chocolate -beware! This could add extra calories to your daily intake, and the individuals participating in this study also saw a little weight gain by ingesting this mixture. Additionally, remember that moderation is also important when following any type of diet - including cholesterol-lowering diets.