Dark chocolate is one of the latest foods to be classified in the super food category. When the medical community talks about dark chocolate being good for you there are some qualifications that go along with that statement. Apparently, you need to eat the chocolate that contains 70% cocoa solids to really get the health benefits, plus the dark chocolate should be a solid bar and not be filled with anything. Such candies as dark chocolate truffles contain a high sugar content and wipe out the nutrition advantages.
You may have heard about flavonoids in the acai berry or red wine. Flavonoids are antioxidants. Medical research has found that oxygen free radicals are a factor in many of the degenerative disease such as heart disease, cancer, allergies, macular degeneration, arthritis and even premature aging. Flavonoids are antioxidants meaning they keep the oxygen free radical from being formed. Dark chocolate contains higher levels of flavonoids than some fruits and vegetables.
A Swiss study involving cardiac patients aged 45 to 70 over a two year period, monitored chocolate consumption over ten years. Researchers said that data indicated patients consuming a few ounces of chocolate twice a week or more were 66 percent less likely to die from cardiac disease than non-eaters. Once a week cut risk by almost half, even once a month or less – cut the risk by 27 percent.
Dark chocolate can also help keep your brain young. Several studies have shown those who consumed chocolate had significantly better mean test scores than those who did not eat dark chocolate. Again, because the flavonoids keep the blood vessels flexible and open more blood can flow to the brain.
There are more benefits to dark chocolate besides the antioxidants. Dark chocolate actually contains endorphins. Endorphins are responsible for that great feeling people who exercise are always talking about. You can get endorphins in other ways besides exercising and eat dark chocolate is one way. Serotonin which is also found in dark chocolate is a natural anti-depressant.
A common concern when we talk about eating chocolate is the high fat content. The fat is dark chocolate is not all “bad” fat. There is monounsaturated fat and one of the monounsaturated fats is stearic acid. According to the American Heart Association, “even though stearic acid is a saturated fat, studies have suggested that it has little effect on blood cholesterol levels, because such a high proportion is converted to oleic acid.”
Doctors say you have to limit your intake of dark chocolate or you will cancel out the benefits. A few ounces a day is sufficient to get the health advantages. Look for dark chocolate bars that are just dark chocolate – no fillings because they just add sugar. Use dark chocolate that is 70% or higher cocoa content. Start with a 70% bar and if you like it try going for a higher percentage.
You would be surprised by how making small changes in your diet can improve your health. Visit us at Curepure.com and find out more about food diets for a healthy heart
