9 Reasons You Should Eat More Chocolate for a Healthier Life

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9 Reasons Why You Should Eat More Chocolate For A Healthier Life
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Chocolate, in moderation, can actually be good for you. Learn how in this presentation!

Transcript of 9 Reasons You Should Eat More Chocolate for a Healthier Life

Page 1: 9 Reasons You Should Eat More Chocolate for a Healthier Life

9 Reasons Why You Should Eat More Chocolate For

A Healthier Life

Page 2: 9 Reasons You Should Eat More Chocolate for a Healthier Life

Cacao packs a powerful punch

Packed with healthy chemicals like flavonoids and Theo bromine, the cacao bean is a diseasekilling bullet and also the source of chocolate’s distinct taste. Make sure your chocolate ofchoice is healthy, with at least 70% cacao. Since cacao has a high fat and sugar content, limityourself to 7 ounces, or about 4 chocolate bars per week.

Page 3: 9 Reasons You Should Eat More Chocolate for a Healthier Life

Dark chocolate is a nutritious beast

A bar of chocolate with at least 70% of cocoa is rich in fiber, iron, magnesium, copper,manganese, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium. Chocolate also has a great fatty acidprofile, with fats being mostly saturated and monounsaturated with small amounts ofpolyunsaturated fats.

Page 4: 9 Reasons You Should Eat More Chocolate for a Healthier Life

Chocolate may lower cholesterol levels

According to a study by the The Journal of Nutrition, regular consumption of chocolate bars

containing plant sterols and cocoa flavanols may support cardiovascular health by lowering

cholesterol and improving blood pressure.

Page 5: 9 Reasons You Should Eat More Chocolate for a Healthier Life

Chocolate: A little secret to a healthy heart

A 9 year study in Sweden of more than 31,000 women showed those women who ate 1 or 2servings of dark chocolate every week reduced their chance for heart failure by a third. Anotherstudy, in Germany, showed that eating a square of chocolate per day reduces risk for high bloodpressure, stroke, and heart attack by 39% due to the presence of flavonoids. In fact, a chocolatebar has about 5 times the amount of flavonoids compared to apples.

Page 6: 9 Reasons You Should Eat More Chocolate for a Healthier Life

Chocolate can prevent memory decline

Different areas of the brain need more energy to complete their tasks, and thus, need greaterblood flow as well. This relationship, known as neurovascular coupling, may play an importantrole in conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Hot chocolate can help preserve blood flow in the brain.

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Chocolate can help with weight loss?

In a way, yes! Dark chocolate is more filling that lighter colored chocolates and lessens cravingsfor sweet, salty, and fatty foods. Therefore, you can eat a smaller portion of dark chocolate thanother chocolates and still satisfy your craving, making it easier to stick to your diet.

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Going out in the sun? Grab a piece of chocolate!

The flavonols found in cocoa can protect against sun-induced damage, improve bloodflow to the skin and increase skin density and hydration.

Page 9: 9 Reasons You Should Eat More Chocolate for a Healthier Life

Happier Babies

A study from Finland found that women who ate chocolate daily during their pregnancy werebetter able to manage stress than women who didn’t. The babies of these women were alsohappier and smiled more. Tough choice: a piece of dark chocolate or a pacifier for yourscreaming baby’s mouth?

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Chocolate: Diabetes’ Secret Foe

According to Claudio Ferri, leader researcher at the University of L’Aquila in Italy, the flavonoidsfound in chocolate increase nitric oxide production. An increase in nitric oxide production helpsinsulin sensitivity and can drop insulin resistance by half.

Page 11: 9 Reasons You Should Eat More Chocolate for a Healthier Life

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