Antioxidants are compounds that help protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals — unstable molecules that can build up from everyday things like sun exposure, pollution, or even normal metabolism. Over time, too many free radicals can lead to inflammation and contribute to aging and diseases.
Antioxidants act like tiny shields, neutralizing free radicals before they can do much harm. That’s why you’ll hear about them so much when it comes to foods like berries, green tea, dark leafy greens — and yes, dark chocolate.
In chocolate, the main antioxidants are flavanols, which may help support heart health, blood flow, and even brain function when consumed regularly (and reasonably).
(You can learn more about chocolate’s antioxidant powers in The Chocolate Lab.)
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