Chocolate freaks, unite!

Of course you already knew that chocolate contained phenylethylamine, the same thing that gives spinach its punch. Phenylethylamine is also produced by the brain when one is in love, but that's another matter entirely. Now comes word that chocolate, which is also rich in flavonoids, can increase blood flow in the brain and in the hands and legs. In addition to improving vascular function, chocolate and cocoa can also delay harmful clotting and reduce inflammation. And, if you are still looking for more good excuses, chocolate is now thought to be an alternative for people who cannot tolerate aspirin. This is all very much on-going research and no one, not even Mars, the giant chocolate manufacturer who is backing a lot of the research, has yet to produce the ideal phenylethylamine- and flavonoid-rich bar that isn't loaded with sugar and fat.

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