ACS.org – In time for the chocolate-giving and chocolate-enjoying fest on Valentine’s Day, scientists are reporting discovery of how the cocoa ingredient in dark chocolate boosts the body’s production of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) – the “good” form of cholesterol that protects against heart disease. Polyphenols in chocolate increase the activity of certain proteins that [...]

UBC.ca – Medium to dark roast coffee may offer the highest concentration and best blend of coffee antioxidants, according to food scientists at the University of British Columbia, who have traced the production of valuable natural compounds to the coffee roasting process. Lead author Yazheng Liu and co-author Prof. David Kitts found that the prevailing [...]

BU.edu – Regular consumption of red wine polyphenols throughout life helps to prevent the decline in vascular health and exercise capacity that comes with aging, according to a recent animal study. The endothelium is the inner lining of our blood vessels. The normal functions of endothelial cells include enabling coagulation, platelet adhesion and immune function. [...]

Asthma is one of the world’s most common chronic diseases, affecting as many as 300 million people. It is estimated that by 2025 there could be an additional 100 million people with the disease. This rapid increase in asthma is most likely due to changing environmental or lifestyle factors, and over the last 15 years, [...]

UEA.ac.uk – A new study shows that bioactive compounds in blueberries called anthocyanins offer protection against hypertension. Compared with those who do not eat blueberries, those eating at least one serving a week reduce their risk of developing the condition by 10 percent, according to research published next month in the American Journal of Clinical [...]

A recent UCLA study on the actions of a cellular antioxidant regulator, Nrf2, found that it had some connection to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque, and that reducing Nrf2 decreased atherosclerosis. But should these study findings scare you away from eating Nrf2-promoting dietary antioxidants found in broccoli, blueberries, and dark chocolate, or from taking the [...]