Advanced Search
Current and Breaking News for Professionals, Consumers and Media




Family Health Author: Staff Editor Last Updated: Sep 7, 2017 - 10:06:33 PM



Moderation Key to Days of Wine and Chocolate

By Staff Editor
Feb 13, 2017 - 4:43:14 PM



Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up for our Ezine
For Email Marketing you can trust


Email this article
 Printer friendly page

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - DALLAS – Feb. 13, 2017 – If wine and chocolate are on the menu for Valentine’s Day, you might be doing your heart a tiny little favor, but moderation remains key, says Dr. Joseph Hill, Chief of Cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Wine is part of the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes vegetables, fruit, seafood, and olive oil, and is recommended by cardiologists, says Dr. Hill, Director of the Harry S. Moss Heart Center. The region of the world where the Mediterranean diet is the norm is notable for its longevity.

Researchers have pinpointed a substance called resveratrol in wine that decreases inflammation and signals the arteries to expand, easing blood flow. Some of the benefits from moderate wine consumption may derive from this compound.

Similarly, chocolate – in particular dark chocolate and cocoa powder – contains an antioxidant called epicatechin that research suggests can have positive effects on artery health and may contribute to lower blood pressure.

But while consumers are eager to embrace research showing benefits of pleasurable foods like wine and chocolate, doctors are hesitant to encourage their patients to partake. Excessive consumption of alcohol – more than two drinks per day for men and more than one for women – can be damaging to organs and pose potential substance abuse issues, and a daily chocolate habit can mean a high intake of sugar and calories.

“We want to believe that chocolate is good for us, but I tell my patients to pump the brakes,” says Dr. Hill. “Portion size is crucial and the health benefits of eating the calorie equivalents of vegetables and fruit are far greater.”

Dr. Hill holds the James T. Willerson, M.D. Distinguished Chair in Cardiovascular Diseases and the Frank M. Ryburn, Jr. Chair in Heart Research.

###



Top of Page

HealthNewsDigest.com

Family Health
Latest Headlines


+ Survival Tips for Single Fathers
+ Fatherly Involvement is Minimized by the System and Society
+ Family Size May Influence Cognitive Functioning
+ History and Future of the Human-Dog Relationship on National Pet Day
+ Protect Your Family
+ Family Gatherings in Tense Times
+ How Family Courts Keep Fathers Out of the Picture
+ For 50 Years, Mass Incarceration Has Hurt American Families
+ Family Violence at Home
+ The Expanded Child Tax Credit is Helping Families



Contact Us | Job Listings | Help | Site Map | About Us
Advertising Information | HND Press Release | Submit Information | Disclaimer

Site hosted by Sanchez Productions