If you're looking for a hot drink to warm you up on cold winter days, a cup of cocoa is an excellent choice. The tasty beverage is more than just a decadent treat, it's actually good for your health.

Cocoa owes many of its health-promoting properties to its rich supply of flavonoids, plant-derived compounds that are also present in red wine and green tea, as well as fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids are known to boost levels of nitric oxide, a chemical that helps dilate blood vessels and increase blood flow throughout the brain and body.

In humans, flavonoids act as natural antioxidants, combating the cellular damage inflicted by disease-causing free radicals. Diets rich in antioxidants can help reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's.

Although it may seem surprising, cocoa is an excellent source of antioxidants. According to the results of a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a cup of hot water with two tablespoons of pure cocoa powder has two to three times more antioxidants than a glass of red wine, and as much as five times more than a cup of black tea.

Drinking a cup of cocoa may boost your brainpower. Researchers at the University of Nottingham in England found that consumption of flavonoid-rich cocoa resulted in significant increases in cerebral blood flow.

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the scientists demonstrated that study participants who drank cocoa had greater blood flow and increased levels of activity in specific areas of the brain. The beneficial effects lasted for up to three hours following cocoa consumption.

Several studies have documented the blood-pressure-lowering effects of cocoa. Scientists at the University Hospital of Cologne in Germany reported that the effects of regular cocoa consumption on blood pressure are comparable to those produced by some prescription medications.

The flavonoids in cocoa also appear to have beneficial effects on cholesterol. Cocoa consumption has been shown to increase levels of heart-healthy high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), a type of cholesterol known to contribute to cardiovascular disease.

Although cocoa tastes great hot or cold, the heated version offers more pronounced health benefits. Higher temperatures trigger a greater release of disease-fighting antioxidants.

To keep your cocoa delicious and nutritious, try making it with low-fat milk and just a pinch of sugar. While you're at it, you might want to steer clear of the marshmallows.

If you're not in the mood for cocoa, a cup of green tea is an excellent alternative. In recent years, hundreds of studies have proven its health-promoting properties.

Green tea is well known for its ability to ward off various types of cancer. Tea contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), a chemical compound capable of killing cancer cells without harming healthy body tissues.

In a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers reported that women who drank two or more cups of tea per day had a 45 percent lower risk of ovarian cancer compared to women who never drank tea. Each additional daily cup of tea was associated with an 18 percent reduction in the risk of developing the cancer.

A cup of green tea can boost the protective powers of the immune system. Drinking tea has been shown to increase production of interferon, a substance known to play a key role in reducing the risk of infection.

Green tea may also be useful in the fight against drug-resistant super-bugs. Recent research suggests that natural compounds in the beverage dramatically enhance the action of antibiotics, making them up to three times more effective at killing disease-causing bacteria.

Drinking green tea may prove to be a simple, inexpensive way to help prevent diabetes and many of its complications. Scientists at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania found that when diabetic rats drank the human equivalent of five cups of green tea daily, their blood sugar levels dropped significantly. In addition, the tea-drinking rodents experienced a reduced risk of developing cataracts and other diabetic complications.

Drinking tea has long been associated with relaxation, and now there's scientific proof. In the medical journal Psychopharmacology, British researchers reported that regular consumption of tea helped normalize levels of stress hormones in the body, lowering stress-related rises in blood pressure and heart rate.

Whether your goal is to chill out, warm up or improve your health, drinking a cup of green tea or hot cocoa is a step in the right direction.

Rallie McAllister is a board-certified family physician, speaker and the author of several books, including "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her website is www.rallieonhealth.com. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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