an apple a day

So I’ve been a bad blogger this week - apologies! - but to make up for it, let’s kick things off with a blog post you can really sink your teeth into (couldn’t resist…). While we all know about the amazing antioxidant effects of chocolate, something you may not know is that chocolate also contains substances that significantly lower blood pressure — as much as blood pressure medications. According to Kathleen Blanchard at Her Active Life, the reason for the blood pressure effect isn’t clear, but it may have something to do with the way chocolate boosts nitric oxide, a substance that helps blood vessels.

Kathleen doesn’t specify which kind of chocolate is the best, but Prevention makes it clear: dark chocolate is the only way to go if you want the maximum heart-health, antioxidant and blood pressure effects, according to this story. They also provide this amazing suggestion for a way to get some chocolate into your life:

Saucy pears Sprinkle 1 teaspoon lemon juice on 2 pears (peeled, stems left on); add 2 tablespoons water; microwave 2 minutes on high, covered. Drizzle with chocolate sauce.

Mmmm!