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CNN Today

Sweet News: Doctors Say Chocolate May be Good for Your Heart

Aired February 18, 2000 - 2:27 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: If I told you chocolate might prevent a heart attack, you'd probably laugh. Well, eat two candy bars and call me in the morning.

CNN's Holly Firfer has the new medical facts on chocolate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLLY FIRFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Can't resist?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is my lunch today. I kind of survive off of them, actually, just about everyday.

FIRFER: If you're like the average American, by the end of this year you will have eaten more that 12 pounds of chocolate. But don't let that number scare you. Scientists say you may be helping your heart.

DR. TISSA KAPPAGODA, UNIV. OF CALIF., DAVIS: Extracts of cocoa. We're looking at a particular group of compounds called flavonoids, and the special effect that we're looking at is the effect on blood vessels.

FIRFER (on camera): The elements in cocoa called flavonoids can actually relax the blood vessels and help prevent coronary arterial sclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

(voice-over): Excess cholesterol, fats and calcium can collect on the walls of the arteries, forming plaque, and that buildup prevents blood from getting to the heart and can cause clots and hemorrhages, which can lead to a heart attack. By dilating the blood vessels, flavonoids help keep the flood following to the heart.

While this is certainly music to chocolate lovers' ears, dietitians warn this research is bittersweet. While you help your heart, you may hurt your waistline.

CHRIS ROSENBLOOM, AMERICAN DIETIC ASSN.: Flavonoids are certainly a healthful part of food, but just a small chocolate bar, one-and-a-half ounces, has over 225 calories, and 50 percent of those calories come from fat, so I wouldn't put quite in the health food category.

KAPPAGODA: In the future there may be a point when you would be able to buy these extracts in health food stores.

FIRFER: Recent studies have also shown flavonoids found in red wine, dark beer, tea and grape juice have the same effect, but when it comes down to it:

ROSENBLOOM: The best way to get those mix of vital (ph) chemicals and things like flavonoids is to eat a wide variety of foods everyday and concentrate on fruits and vegetables.

FIRFER: So for those who can indulge, don't overdue it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream, chocolate sprinkles and chocolate fudge.

FIRFER: Maybe that's why call this Death by Chocolate.

Holly Firfer, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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