Enjoying chocolate could be seen as a guilty pleasure, reason why it was called “food of the gods” by the ancient Mayans and Aztecs in Central and South America. In fact, eaten in moderation, it’s a “superfood” which is beneficial to your health in so many ways. Traditionally, the most widespread medicinal use of cocoa was as a treatment for underweight people, a stimulant for the nervous system or exhaustion, and as a treatment for poor digestion. The cocoa plant has also been known to treat hair loss, cough, water retention, rheumatism, dry lips, and has been used as an antiseptic for burns and wounds.
Chocolate is good for your heart.
A small bar of it every day can help keep your heart and cardiovascular system running well.
Dark chocolate is loaded with health promoting flavenoids, which are a type of antioxidant found in plants and vegetables. Antioxidants help break down free radicals and destructive molecules that are said to cause heart disease. Flavenoids work like a low dose aspirin to prevent clotting. Dark chocolate provides 2-4 times the antioxidants than in a glass of red wine.
- Lower Blood Pressure: Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.
- Lower Cholesterol: Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.
Chocolate also holds benefits apart from protecting your heart:
- it tastes good
- it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure and a reduction in pain
- it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant so less anxiety
- it contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulant so an energy lift
Some of the fats in chocolate do not impact your cholesterol.
The fats in chocolate are:
- 1/3 Oleic Acid is a healthy monounsaturated fat that is also found in olive oil.
- 1/3 Stearic Acid is a saturated fat but one which research is shows has a neutral effect on cholesterol.
- 1/3 Palmitic Acid is also a saturated fat, one which raises cholesterol and heart disease risk.
That means only 1/3 of the fat in dark chocolate is bad for you.
Few tips on eating chocolate:
Tip 1 - Balance the Calories:
Chocolate is still a high-calorie, high-fat food. One bar of dark chocolate has around 400 calories. If you eat half a bar of chocolate a day, you must balance those 200 calories by eating less of something else. Cut out other sweets or snacks and replace them with chocolate to keep your total calories the same.
Tip 2 - Taste the Chocolate:
Chocolate is a complex food with over 300 compounds and chemicals in each bite. To really enjoy and appreciate chocolate, take the time to taste it. Professional chocolate tasters have developed a system for tasting chocolate that include assessing the appearance, smell, feel and taste of each piece.
Tip 3 - Go for Dark Chocolate:
Dark chocolate has far more antioxidants than milk or white chocolate. Dark chocolate has 50-65% or higher cocoa content.
Tip 4 - Skip the caramel, nougat and other fillings:
You should look for pure dark chocolate or dark chocolate with nuts, orange peel or other flavorings. Avoid anything with caramel, nougat or other fillings. These fillings are just adding sugar and fat which erase many of the benefits you get from eating the chocolate.
Tip 5 - Avoid Milk:
It may taste good but some research shows that washing your chocolate down with a glass of milk could prevent the antioxidants being absorbed or used by your body.
Special holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, Christmas, and birthdays are not complete without a gift of chocolate. Good for pleasure, good for health!
