Sweet News for Chocolate Lovers

Sweet News for Chocolate Lovers
By J. A. Young

It may seem too good to be true, but chocolate contains health benefits that taste as sweetly as they sound. The catch is that the chocolate must be dark. Milk and white chocolates do not offer the health benefits that plain dark chocolate can deliver. Dark chocolate contains more cacao, the real source for the health benefits. From heart health to mood enhancement, dark chocolate can truly impact how you feel in a positive way that is good for your body.

A piece of broccoli or a piece of chocolate? You may not have to feel guilty about choosing the latter. As chocolate is derived from plants, it contains many of the nutrients that dark vegetables contain. Dark chocolates antioxidants and flavonoids diminish the body’s aging effects. Chocolate’s antioxidants fight the accumulation of free radicals in the body. Free radicals play a role in disease. Flavonoids can actually help the body to reduce blood pressure and even balance hormones. Dark chocolate has also been shown to help lower levels of bad cholesterol which is great news for your heart.

Many chocolate lovers insist that eating chocolate makes them feel good. Science agrees and has shown that the serotonin contained in dark chocolate can reduce depression and allow a person to feel good. Other ingredients in the chocolate like caffeine and theobromine act as stimulants that make a person feel rejuvenated and more awake. The phenylethylamine is also known to enhance or elevate moods. And of course, there is the simple pleasure of its good taste that keeps people coming back for more.

Chocolate was greatly prized by Native Americans like the Aztecs who used it in their pharmacopeia. In fact, hot chocolate was a staple drink. The Aztec’s relied on chocolate to cure bronchitis and even to alleviate bug bites. People today might want to put hot cocoa on their diets—a cup of hot chocolate has been shown to diminish feelings of hunger. Keep in mind that dark chocolate is key. It has far fewer calories than milk chocolate and very much less sugar!

Although for some migraine sufferers chocolate might trigger headaches, it is not considered to be addictive and its stimulant properties are so small that they will not excite your nerves the way that very strong coffee may. People with specific health concerns should consult their healthcare provider before incorporating chocolate into their diets. Also remember that moderation is important. Dark chocolate still contains some fat that people must be aware of, but it can provide people with a sweet tooth health benefits that other sweets can’t.