Benefits of Eating Chocolate
One of the really neat benefits of eating chocolate, dark chocolate specifically, is that it can help control diabetes and high blood pressure. And by helping the body’s ability to metabolize sugar; another big plus for diabetics.
Flavanol is the powerful antioxidant found in dark chocolate. It neutralizes free radicals like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Unfortunately, with the way most cocoa and chocolate syrup is manufactured, it is removed during the process.
And with dark chocolate, you have to worry about the calories. It contains a lot of antioxidants, but also a lot of calories and fat. So even though it tastes good and packs a good punch of antioxidants, eat in moderation.
Tasty Dark Chocolate Facts
When it comes to dark chocolate, the darker the better. And if you are going to go for the rich stuff, European chocolates are generally better
Why the big deal? Well, the answer is called cocoa phenols, which is known to lower blood pressure.
And a study by Osaka University in Japan notes that cacao contains antibacterial agents that actually fight tooth decay. However, watch for sugar in mass-produced chocolate, which can take away from the benefits of eating chocolate.
Does chocolate cause acne?
Not according to two independent studies. Chocolate made no difference in the skin condition of the study participants
Studies at Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the U.S. Naval Academy found that the connection was not proven.
Concerns about caffeine in chocolate
Don't worry about it. One ounce of milk chocolate contains the same amount of caffeine as one cup of decaffeinated coffee.
Cocoa, Flavonoids & How It Helps...
Cocoa helps the body process nitric oxide (NO), a compound critical for healthy blood flow and blood pressure.
And nitric oxide plays an important role in the maintenance of healthy blood pressure which in turn aids in better cardiovascular health.
In other words, flavonol-rich cocoa and chocolate act similarly to low-dose aspirin in promoting healthy blood flow. It just tastes better than aspirin!
Reducing the blood's ability to clot also reduces the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
So an alternative approach for people who cannot take aspirin is eating flavonol-rich foods.
However, the effects you see in aspirin are longer-lasting than the effects you see in flavonols.
Chocolate and Cholesterol
Chocolate contains stearic acid, a neutral fat that does not increase bad cholesterol (LDL). The cocoa butter in chocolate contains a mono-unsaturated fat called oleic acid found in olive oil that may actually raise good cholesterol (HDL).
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