Wednesday, April 27, 2011

After a long days work...

...you need antioxidants, right? 

Well, what's better than dark chocolate and hot tea?
Chocolate is more than just a decadent treat. Research has shown that chocolate -- especially dark chocolate -- is rich in healthy antioxidants. Chocolate, like red wine, contains substances called phenols, which are powerful antioxidants, and have been shown to help prevent LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) from building up in the arteries.

There are dramatic differences between types of chocolate. Milk chocolate contains the lowest amount of antioxidants; dark chocolate has far more concentrated amounts of phenol per gram. In general, the darker and more concentrated the chocolate, the more antioxidants it contains.
  And what about tea?
Consumer Reports tested the antioxidant punch of 15 brewed, bottled, and instant teas, it found most teas brewed from tea bags scored highest in antioxidant content. In fact, the magazine reported, “Brewed tea appears to have more antioxidant action than almost any whole fruit or vegetable — and more than most commercial fruit or vegetable juices, too.”

No one can live on chocolate and Constant Comment alone. (Trust me, I have tried.)  But when the day calls for it, I can feel a lot better about having it.

At least that's what I tell myself.