Chocolate, it turns out, is good for more than just nursing a breakup, getting men off the hook on Valentine's Day and making belts obsolete.
It can be good for you! According to the Wall Street Journal, the European Safe Food Authority (ESFA) backs a claim by cocoa giant Barry Callebaut AG that dark chocolate can be good for blood circulation. [Tears open a bag of dark chocolate M&Ms and pours in mouth like a maniac.]
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Thank cocoa's flavonols, or antioxidants. In order for flavonols to be effective, the ESFA states, one must consume 200 mg of cocoa flavonols through either 2.5 grams of high-flavonol cocoa powder or 10 grams of high-flavonol dark chocolate daily. Well, if you insist.
Dark chocolate has long been touted as a superfood, but this makes it nearly official. The European Commission still has to approve the ESFA ruling, but if they do, Barry Callebaut may print the health claims on its packaging.
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