It’s well known that if you’re going to eat chocolate, dark chocolate is the way to go. There’s lots of evidence that dark chocolate is good for you, but until pretty recently, scientists didn’t know exactly why.
衆所周知，如果要吃巧克力，黑巧克力是上佳之選。許多證據表明黑巧克力對健康有益，但直到最近科學家們才揭開此中玄機。
Candy Hearts
有益心臟健康
Now there may be an answer. According to researchers at the Louisiana State College of Agriculture, dark chocolate is healthful because it feeds specific bacteria in the gut that turn it into anti?inflammatory compounds, which help keep the heart healthy.
現在我們也許找到了答案。根據路易斯安那州立大學農學院研究人員的研究，黑巧克力之所以有益健康是因爲它爲腸道提供一種特別的細菌，使得黑巧克力轉變成有助於心臟健康的`消炎化合物。
The scientists used a simulated digestive tract to test three cocoa powders. Cocoa powder is an ingredient in chocolate, and contains antioxidant compounds and some fiber that are hard to digest in the stomach. But when they reach the colon, the bacteria feast and turn them into anti?inflammatory substances.
科學家使用模擬消化道來檢驗三種可可粉。可可粉是巧克力的配料之一，含有抗氧化劑化合物和纖維，很難在胃裏消化。但是當它們到達結腸，細菌將其分解轉變成消炎物質。
Chocolate Covered
巧克力之益
More research is needed to confirm the findings, but the scientists think that eating dark chocolate, especially in combination with prebiotic carbohydrates found in foods such as raw garlic and cooked whole wheat, can drastically improve human health.
該發現還需更多的研究來支持，但是科學家們認爲，食用黑巧克力，特別是同生蒜和熟全麥中的益生元碳水化合物結合起來，可以大大改善人體健康。
And combining dark chocolate with pomegranates, a?ai berries, and other foods high in antioxidants could prove even more healthful.
同時，有證據表明如果能將黑巧克力和富含抗氧化劑的石榴，漿果等食物結合起來，效果更佳。
Dark chocolate still has plenty of fat, sugar and calories, so its healthful properties do not mean you should overindulge.
黑巧克力中含有大量脂肪，糖分和能量，因此它雖有益健康卻不宜食用過量。
But if you love chocolate and also love being healthy, dark chocolate is the way to go. And now scientists know why.
但是如果你既愛巧克力又注意保持健康，那麼黑巧克力是不二之選。而且現在又得到了科學家的證明。
（編輯：何瑩瑩）
