28 Apr 09 Is Chocolate Good For You?

A very good question, especially considering how much most of us do love the occasional chocolate bar, wouldn’t it be great if you weren’t doing damage to your health but actually something positive with your cravings? Well as the facts point out, chocolate actually is good for you, cocoa itself that is, but not all chocolate is good for you. Dark chocolate in particular is the stuff that has high health benefits, and few to no negative side effects.

This is because cocoa is rich in flavanols, which are extraordinarily good for you because they are proven to increase blood vessel function and blood flow, reduce blood pressure, reduce the tendency of your blood to form clots, and increase blood flow to the brain. All of which fantastic things, and all of which offered by the flavanols found in cocoa. However that’s not to say you should run out and buy as much chocolate as you want, as that would just hurt you in the long run.

To receive the full health benefits from chocolate that you could, you want to concentrate on dark chocolate which is low in fats and sugars, whereas milk chocolate is loaded with fat, sugar, and cholesterol, all of which completely erase any benefits from cocoa’s flavanols. Also you have to factor in how much you’re eating and adjust your diet accordingly, as you have to reduce calories elsewhere to allow yourself room for chocolate calories. Otherwise you’re eating extra calories which is going to lead to weight gain.

You want to measure out your chocolate intake, have a little dark chocolate every once and a while as a treat, and then you allow yourself the health benefits without having to worry about any negative side effects. Although it’s also good to note that fruits and vegetables are still the best way to go for antioxidants and beneficial vitamins and minerals.

Like kiwi which has the highest concentration of antioxidants, vitamin c, and numerous other beneficial minerals for your cardiovascular system. Chocolate will never, nor should ever, be a substitute for something as ridiculously healthy as a kiwi.

Tags: Blood Flow, Blood Vessel, Cardiovascular System, Chocolate Bar, Cocoa, Cravings, Dark Chocolate, Fantastic Things, Flavanols, Fruits And Vegetables, Full Health, Good Question, Health Benefits, High Health, Kiwi, Milk Chocolate, Sugars, Vitamin C, Vitamins And Minerals, Weight Gain

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28 Apr 09 Is Chocolate Good For You?

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