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CNN Live At Daybreak

Heart May Actually Benefit From Chocolate

Aired February 12, 2003 - 06:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Sure, diamonds are nice. And you can't go wrong with a dozen roses. But nothing says love on Valentine's Day like a heart shaped box of chocolates. Did you know the heart, the real heart, I'm talking about, may actually benefit from chocolate.
Lisa Drayer of Dietwatch.com joins us this morning from New York to talk about that.

Good morning, Lisa.

LISA DRAYER, NUTRITIONIST: Good morning, Carol.

That's right, just in time for Valentine's Day, a review of the current research on chocolate say this sweet treat can be beneficial for the heart. Chocolate contains flavanoids, which are chemicals found also in red wine and grapes that are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. Flavanoids actually protect against oxidation, which is a process that causes damage in the artery walls. Dark chocolate does have more flavanoids than milk chocolate.

Also, research shows that stearic acid in chocolate, which is a saturated fat, has a neutral effect on blood cholesterol levels. This is unlike other saturated fats, which raise the LDL or harmful cholesterol.

Chocolate also contains about 34 percent of our daily needs for copper, which is a mineral that protects against anemia and heart disease. And chocolate also contains calcium, which not only protects our bones, but increased calcium consumption is associated with lower blood pressure. And chocolate also contains magnesium, which protects against heart arrhythmias and it is also a good source of potassium, which helps to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke.

COSTELLO: Who knew?

DRAYER: Exactly. In fact, an apple...

COSTELLO: But to get...

DRAYER: ... has the same amount of potassium as a serving of chocolate.

COSTELLO: But you can't just stuff your face with chocolate, right?

DRAYER: Absolutely not, especially if you're watching your weight. Chocolate contains lots of calories. For example, if you're planning on being intimate this Valentine's Day...

COSTELLO: Lisa!

DRAYER: But if you are, let's be real, it would take about three hours of sexual activity to burn off four Dove chocolate hearts.

COSTELLO: I can hear all those guys running out to get some truffles.

DRAYER: Right, but, you know, if you choose those Necco sweethearts instead, you know, the ones that say "Be Mine" and "I Love You," you can get some sleep. It'll only take about an hour.

Also, exercise, it would take about 28 minutes of brisk walking to burn off five Hershey kisses. There's about 130 calories and eight grams of fat in those five. Not so bad. And also about 26 minutes on the Stair Master to burn just one Reese's chocolate heart.

COSTELLO: Well, thank you, Lisa. We never thought of it -- well, actually, we did think of it in those terms. You just brought it out into the open. And we appreciate it.

Lisa Drayer, thanks so much.

DRAYER: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired February 12, 2003 - 06:52   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Sure, diamonds are nice. And you can't go wrong with a dozen roses. But nothing says love on Valentine's Day like a heart shaped box of chocolates. Did you know the heart, the real heart, I'm talking about, may actually benefit from chocolate.
Lisa Drayer of Dietwatch.com joins us this morning from New York to talk about that.

Good morning, Lisa.

LISA DRAYER, NUTRITIONIST: Good morning, Carol.

That's right, just in time for Valentine's Day, a review of the current research on chocolate say this sweet treat can be beneficial for the heart. Chocolate contains flavanoids, which are chemicals found also in red wine and grapes that are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. Flavanoids actually protect against oxidation, which is a process that causes damage in the artery walls. Dark chocolate does have more flavanoids than milk chocolate.

Also, research shows that stearic acid in chocolate, which is a saturated fat, has a neutral effect on blood cholesterol levels. This is unlike other saturated fats, which raise the LDL or harmful cholesterol.

Chocolate also contains about 34 percent of our daily needs for copper, which is a mineral that protects against anemia and heart disease. And chocolate also contains calcium, which not only protects our bones, but increased calcium consumption is associated with lower blood pressure. And chocolate also contains magnesium, which protects against heart arrhythmias and it is also a good source of potassium, which helps to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke.

COSTELLO: Who knew?

DRAYER: Exactly. In fact, an apple...

COSTELLO: But to get...

DRAYER: ... has the same amount of potassium as a serving of chocolate.

COSTELLO: But you can't just stuff your face with chocolate, right?

DRAYER: Absolutely not, especially if you're watching your weight. Chocolate contains lots of calories. For example, if you're planning on being intimate this Valentine's Day...

COSTELLO: Lisa!

DRAYER: But if you are, let's be real, it would take about three hours of sexual activity to burn off four Dove chocolate hearts.

COSTELLO: I can hear all those guys running out to get some truffles.

DRAYER: Right, but, you know, if you choose those Necco sweethearts instead, you know, the ones that say "Be Mine" and "I Love You," you can get some sleep. It'll only take about an hour.

Also, exercise, it would take about 28 minutes of brisk walking to burn off five Hershey kisses. There's about 130 calories and eight grams of fat in those five. Not so bad. And also about 26 minutes on the Stair Master to burn just one Reese's chocolate heart.

COSTELLO: Well, thank you, Lisa. We never thought of it -- well, actually, we did think of it in those terms. You just brought it out into the open. And we appreciate it.

Lisa Drayer, thanks so much.

DRAYER: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com