Flavonoids! I knew there was something special in chocolate. Flavonoids!!!

CHOCOLATE BARS

WHY YOU THINK THEY'RE BAD: They're high in both sugar and fat.

WHY THEY'RE NOT: Cocoa is rich in flavonoids--the same heart-healthy compounds found in red wine and green tea. Its most potent form is dark chocolate. In a recent study, Greek researchers found that consuming dark chocolate containing 100 milligrams (mg) of flavonoids relaxes your blood vessels, improving bloodflow to your heart. What about the fat? It's mostly stearic and oleic acids.

EAT THIS: CocoaVia chocolate bars. Each 100-calorie bar is guaranteed to contain 100 mg flavonoids. As an added benefit, the chocolate has been beefed up with phytosterols, compounds that have been shown to help reduce cholesterol. Find the bars at many Wal-Mart stores, or online at cocoavia.com.