Dark chocolate is loaded with flavonoids, antioxidants that have been shown in medical studies to offer protection to the vascular system, heart and brain. As more studies associate an increasing number of health benefits to its high anti-oxidant content, dark chocolate has become a celebrity food. What Are Antioxidants? Antioxidants are plant compounds that researchers believe help fight the cell damage caused by too many free radicals in the body. There are thousands of types of antioxidants and they are abundant in plant-based foods. Antioxidants are believed to reduce the risk of certain diseases, including heart disease. In fact, a 2010 Harvard study published in "Circulation: Heart Failure," a journal of the American Heart Association, showed a 32 percent reduction in the risk of heart failure development in women who ate 1 to 3 servings of dark chocolate -- 30 percent cocoa content -- per month. It is important to note, however, that increased serving...