According to the study, which was published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology (JACC), daily cocoa flavanol consumption more than doubles the amount of circular angiogenic cells (CACs) in the blood. This is helpful because studies show these angiogenic cells have vessel repair abilities and maintenance functions resulting in healthy blood vessels. Feeling the dark chocolate love yet?

If you are confused by all the scientific gobbledygook, here is the takeaway – poor blood vessel function is recognized as an early stage of development for cardiovascular disease, even some coronary artery disease. When CAC levels increase, the risk of death from cardiovascular causes decrease, which makes dark chocolate a delicious heart-healthy solution you can live with and enjoy.

Read more about this study at Mars.com.

Article by Monica Johnson