According to Susan Ofria from Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, red wine and dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 70 percent or higher contain resveratrol, which has been found to lower blood sugar.

Red wine is also a source of catechins, which could help improve good HDL cholesterol.

`You are not even choosing between the lesser of two evils, red wine and dark chocolate have positive components that are actually good for your heart,` Newswise quoted Ofria, a registered dietitian at the Loyola University Health System`s Melrose Park campus as saying.

Ofria, who is also a nutrition educator, has also recommended a list of heart-healthy ingredients for February, which is national heart month, and for good heart health all year.

Along with red wine and dark chocolate, the list of heath-healthy food comprises of salmon or tuna, especially white, or albacore, tuna and salmon, as they `are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, and canned salmon contains soft bones that give an added boost of calcium take.`

Next comes golden or brown flaxseeds, followed by oatmeal and black or kidney beans.

Walnuts and almonds, which `contain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, Magnesium, fiber and heart-favorable mono- and polyunsaturated fats`, come next in the list.

Blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries, which `are a good source of beta carotene and lutein, anthocyanin, ellagic acid, vitamin C, folate, potassium and fiber,` round off the top eight heart-healthy foods.

Source: ANI
Image: Flickr/creativecommons amylovesyah