If anyone needs an incentive to ingest more chocolate, here it is! A randomized, controlled study by USCF (funded by Mars, Inc, it should be noted) and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) showed that the participants who enjoyed two cups of 70%+ chocolate a day had a two-fold increase in angiogenic cells. Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels that help wound healing and supply oxygen to the body thereby reducing cardiovascular events. Stem cell formation is at the root of the process, promoting and making angiogenesis possible. Stem cells are neutral cells that can be turned into specialized cells in the body. They regenerate and repair tissue, reduce pain and inflammation, and combat disease. The benefit of chocolate on stem cell production was mainly attributed to its flavonol content. Amazing!