VOA标准英语2012--Study: Chocolate, Strawberries Help Blood Pressure

Study: Chocolate, Strawberries Help Blood Pressure

 In the days leading up to Valentine's Day, Americans buy some $700 million worth of chocolate treats... luscious¹, creamy and loaded with fat. But recent studies show that dark chocolate can also be good for your heart. 

Researchers find that dark chocolate and aspirin² have similar effects on the blood. They thin out the blood so it flows more easily, even through partially-blocked arteries³, and that could reduce the possibility of a heart attack. 

But for chocolate lovers everywhere, the health benefits are even better than that.

"Research shows that we get flavinoids in dark chocolate," said nutritionist Tammy Roberts. 

Flavinoids are nutrients⁴ found in many different kinds of plants. They help protect plants against disease and insects. When we eat food with high levels of flavinoids, these nutrients trigger our immune systems to produce enzymes⁵ - proteins - that reduce the risk of some kinds of cancer, heart disease and some other diseases that come with age. 

In fact, 21 scientific studies involving more than 2,600 participants examined the effects of dark chocolate on the heart. The studies showed that eating dark chocolate lowered blood pressure and improved the ability of insulin to regulate blood sugar. 

Tammy Roberts says flavinoids are also found in something that tastes great when covered with dark chocolate, strawberries.

"The health benefits of chocolate-covered strawberries are that both chocolate and strawberries contain antioxidants, and antioxidants are important for immune function and preventing infection," Roberts added.

Roberts says the best Valentine's Day gift combines fruit and chocolate.

"When you give your Valentine a basket full of fruit that has just a little bit of chocolate, then you're really showing them the very best kind of love, because you're giving them a lot of antioxidants and vitamin C with just enough chocolate to make it exciting," Roberts explained.

Just remember to make it dark chocolate. 

1 luscious   

adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的

参考例句：

• The watermelon was very luscious.Everyone wanted another slice.西瓜很可口，每个人都想再来一片。
• What I like most about Gabby is her luscious lips!我最喜欢的是盖比那性感饱满的双唇！

2 aspirin   

n.阿司匹林

参考例句：

• The aspirin seems to quiet the headache.阿司匹林似乎使头痛减轻了。
• She went into a chemist's and bought some aspirin.她进了一家药店，买了些阿司匹林。

3 arteries   

n.动脉( artery的名词复数 )；干线，要道

参考例句：

• Even grafting new blood vessels in place of the diseased coronary arteries has been tried. 甚至移植新血管代替不健康的冠状动脉的方法都已经试过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This is the place where the three main arteries of West London traffic met. 这就是伦敦西部三条主要交通干线的交汇处。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 enzymes   

n. 酶，酵素

参考例句：

• It was said that washing powders containing enzymes remove stains more efficiently. 据说加酶洗衣粉除污更有效。
• Among the enzymes which are particularly effective are pepsin, papain. 在酶当中特别有效的是胃朊酶、木瓜酶。