Drink Wine and Eat Chocolate For Your Heart

Drink wine, eat chocolate and follow your doctor’s advice all at the same time? That’s right, it’s no secret that eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate and having one glass of red wine every day is actually good for you! So enjoy your daily dose of antioxidants and toast to good health – it’s February and National Heart Month!

According to a recent article published through Loyola University Health System, “Red wine and dark chocolate have positive components that are actually good for your heart.” Red wine and dark chocolate contain resveratrol, which has been found to lower blood sugar. Red wine is also a source of catechins, which could help improve “good” HDL cholesterol – Pinots, Shirahs, Merlots and Cabernets are all a good source of catechins and resveratrol. As for dark chocolate, truffles, soufflés and even hot chocolate can be a good source of resveratrol and flavonoids as long as dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 70 percent or higher is used.

Other heart healthy foods include salmon or tuna, flaxseeds, oatmeal, black beans, kidney beans, walnuts, almonds, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and strawberries.

As it is National Heart Month, we remind you that heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. If you have any questions or concerns regarding heart disease, please contact your doctor. When in doubt, check it out. If you need help finding a cardiologist in Northern Nevada, please call Carson Tahoe Cardiology at (775) 445-7650 or toll free at (855) 310-2470.