Chocolate and Atrial Fibrillation: Protective or Wishful Thinking?

Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, often gets tabbed as a heart-healthy treat. The idea is that the flavanols in chocolate have disease-fighting antioxidant power that preserves the health of your blood vessels, and may have other properties that improve blood pressure and help prevent blood clots. Flavanols are a type of flavanoid, a substance also found in fruits and vegetables that helps protect plants from toxins and environmental damage.