Why You Should Eat More Chocolate For A

Healthier Life

Cacao packs a powerful punch

PackedwithhealthychemicalslikeflavonoidsandTheobromine,thecacaobeanisadiseasekillingbulletandalsothesourceofchocolate’sdistincttaste.Makesureyourchocolateofchoiceishealthy,withatleast70%cacao.Sincecacaohasahighfatandsugarcontent,limityourselfto7ounces,orabout4chocol

atebarsperweek.

Abarofchocolatewithatleast70%ofcocoaisrichinfiber,iron,magnesium,copper,manganese,potassium,phosphorus,zinc,andselenium.Chocolatealsohasagreatfattyacidprofile,withfatsbeingmostlysaturatedandmonounsaturatedwithsmallamountsofpolyunsaturatedfats.

AccordingtoastudybytheTheJournalofNutrition,regularconsumptionofchocolatebarscontainingplantsterolsandcocoaflavanolsmaysupportcardiovascularhealthbyloweringcholesterolandiprovingbloodpressure.

A9yearstudyinSwedenofmorethan31,000womenshowedthosewomenwhoate1or2servingsofdarkchocolateeveryweekreducedtheirchanceforheartfaiurebyathird.Anotherstudy,inGermany,showedthateatingasquareofchocolateperdayreducesriskforhighbloodpressure,stroke,andheartattackby39%duetothepresenceofflavonoids.Infact,achocolatebarhasabout5timestheamountofflavonoidscomparedtoapples.

Differentareasofthebrainneedmoreenergytocompletetheirtasks,andthus,needgreaterbloodflowaswell.Thisrelationship,knownasneurovascularcoupling,mayplayanimportantroleinconditions

suchasAlzheimer’s.Hotchocolatecanhelppreservebloodflowinthebrain.

Chocolate can help with weight loss?

Inaway,yes!Darkchocolateismorefillingthatlightercoloredchocolatesandlessenscravingsforsweet,salty,andfattyfoods.Therefore,youcaneatasmallerportionofdarkchocolate

thanotherchocolatesandstillsatisfyyourcraving,makingiteasiertosticktoyourdiet.

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

Theflavonolsfoundincocoacanprotectagainstsun-induceddamage,improvebloodflowtotheskinandincreaseskindensityandhydration.

Chocolate: Diabetes’ Secret Foe

AccordingtoClaudioFerri,leaderresearcherattheUniversityofL’AquilainItaly,theflavonoidsfoundinchocolateincreasenitricoxideproduction.Anincreaseinnitricoxideproductionhelpsinsulinsensitivityandcandropinsulinresistancebyhalf.

Happier Babies

AstudyfromFinlandfoundthatwomenwhoatechocolatedailyduringtheirpregnancywerebetterabletomanagestressthanwomenwhodidn’t.Thebabiesofthesewomenwerealsohappierandsmiledmore.

Toughchoice:apieceofdarkchocolateorapacifierforyourscreamingbaby’smouth?

JJK