Chocolate: The Pleasure Treasure   Dark Chocolate contains Flavonoids and Cocoa Phenols   ○ Flavonoids are naturally found in some foods, including grape juice, onions, tea, red wine, apples, and the cocoa in dark chocolate. Small amounts are found in beer and white wine.   ○ Flavonoids have antioxidant properties. For more information about antioxidants, click here.   ○ Flavonoids in dark chocolate are said to have a beneficial effect on our cardiovascular system.   ○ The positive effects of flavonoids in dark chocolate are minimized when mixed with milk.   ○ The more processed the chocolate, the fewer flavonoids and cocoa phenols.   ○ Eat dark chocolate that contains 70% or more cacao in order to benefit from the flavonoids and phenols.   ○ Processed milk chocolate bars are not the same as dark chocolate and tend to fall in the "empty Calories", high sugar, high fat, low nutritive value category.   ○ Milk chocolate contains four times fewer flavonoids and phenols than dark, and white chocolate contains none.   ○ Dark chocolate  is thought to reduce high blood pressure, lower bad (LDL) cholesterol, have a positive effect on blood vessels, and give us a feeling of happiness.   ○ Dark chocolate is also said to promote alertness, decrease anxiety, increase a sense of well being.   ○ Eat dark chocolate in moderation. It contains Calories, fat, and sugar.   ○ In 40 grams of dark chocolate that contains 70 percent cocoa, there are 213 Calories, 16 grams of fat, 11 grams of saturated fat, and 12 grams of sugar. Be conservative in your consumption! ○  You only need one to two squares a day to get the benefits of dark chocolate.  Some suggest 2 squares a week.   ○ When buying dark chocolate, remember to buy good quality, organic, fair trade.      Fair trade products offer producers (farmers) in developing countries higher prices than on the world commodity markets. Money is directed to social and environmental development and fair wages.