The treat favored by millions not only tastes delicious but is healthy for you.
Chocolate contains many substances that act as stimulants①， such as theobromine②， phenethylamine and caffeine. These substances by themselves have previously been found to increase alertness③ and attention. By consuming chocolate you can get the stimulating effects， which then lead to increased mental performance.
Chocolate contains compounds called flavonoids④ that can help maintain a healthy heart and good circulation and reduce blood clotting. The researchers found not only an increase in antioxidant capacity after chocolate consumption， but also modulation of certain compounds which affect blood vessels.
Platelet⑤ activation is thought to be an important risk factor in blood clotting. Chocolate can affect the platelet activity. People who consume the chocolate had lower levels of platelet activity， cocoa acts like low-dose aspirin which helps to reduce blood clotting.
Therefore we can believe that chocolate may contribute to a healthy， well-balanced diet.
① stimulantn. 刺激物，激励物； 兴奋剂；兴奋饮料；酒
② theobrominen. 【化】可可碱
③ alertnessn. 警觉；机警；活泼；灵活，敏捷
④ flavonoidsn. 类黄酮； 类黄酮素；蒲公英黄酮
⑤ Plateletn. 【医】血小板；小片，小板
食用巧克力益处多
巧克力这种受到广大民众喜爱的食品，不仅味香可口，而且还对身体大有裨益。
巧克力内含有很多具有兴奋作用的物质，如可可碱、苯已基以及咖啡因。先前的研究已发现，这些物质能让人变得更加机敏，并能增强注意力。吃巧克力能够让人感到兴奋，从而使人的脑力表现得到提高。
巧克力中含有一种黄酮混合物，具有维持心脏健康、促进血液循环及减少血液凝结物等功能。长期食用巧克力还能降低心脏病的发病率。人们在消化巧克力的过程中吸收了大量的黄酮成份，这种物质能够起到增强心血管功能的作用。
科学界一直有人认为，血小板的活动程度对血凝程度起着至关重要的作用。巧克力会影响血液中血小板的活动。经常食用食用巧克力的人血小板活动减慢了，巧克力中的可可粉能够起到同阿斯匹林相类似的降低血液粘度的作用。
因此我们相信，巧克力能够作为健康及均衡体能的食品。