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Know the Health Benefits of Chocolate
Great news for chocolate lovers has made the delicious treat (the darker the better) a healthy dessert option. That’s right — there are plenty of health benefits in chocolate, if you eat the right kind, and not too much of it. We’ll give you the delicious lowdown ahead.
Antioxidant power
A number of studies show that dark chocolate with a high cocoa content packs a great antioxidant punch. Cocoa powder and chocolate are derived from beans that contain high levels of flavonoids, which are natural antioxidants. Cocoa itself has the highest content of an antioxidant called procyanidin. These antioxidants are believed to help fight cancer, stroke and heart disease.
Research has shown that chocolate’s antioxidant effects can also be good for your heart. In one study, people who ate dark chocolate with a high concentration of cocoa powder reported lower levels of negative LDL cholesterol, higher levels of good HDL cholesterol, and higher blood antioxidant levels.
Lower blood pressure
Cocoa may also reduce blood clotting, similar to the effects of aspirin, and stabilize arterial plaque, which makes plaque less likely to travel through the bloodstream and cause a heart attack or stroke. But unlike aspirin, researchers believe that procyanidins can also increase production of nitric oxide, keeping arteries flexible and improving blood flow.
Hold the milk
Studies have found that the benefits of chocolate decrease the more the cocoa is processed, which in turn decreases the procyanidin levels. For instance, milk chocolate, which contains fewer cocoa solids, has the lowest procyanidin levels. Baking chocolate and chocolate that has been alkalinized, which raises the pH of cocoa and lowers the acidity (common in Dutch chocolate), were found to have significantly reduced procyanidin amounts.
Though dark chocolate health benefits are significant, don’t start gorging yourself! Enjoy the treat in moderation or its positive effects might be overshadowed by too much of the sugar and calories that this delicious and good-for-you food still contains.
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Why are you moving?
- For financial reasons (33%, 17 Votes)
- For a change of scene (29%, 15 Votes)
- To start a new job (25%, 13 Votes)
- To join or follow a loved one (10%, 5 Votes)
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