If you're a regular reader then you know that I'm always yammering on about the health benefits of eating chocolate, dark chocolate in particular. I've touched on the specifics of this here and there, but this week I thought I'd give you a breakdown. Here are the top four reasons why chocolate might be the healthiest thing you eat today:
1. Fiber
We all know that fiber is important. It keeps you feeling full longer and helps with digestion. A mere tablespoon of cocoa has 2g of fiber--an incredibly dense amount for such a small portion. Put that in your morning oatmeal!
2. Vitamins
If you have an iron deficiency, perhaps you should try upping your chocolate intake instead of eating more hamburgers. A one ounce portion of dark chocolate (70% cacao or higher), yields about 20% of your daily recommended amount of iron. It also gives you about 20% of your daily magnesium, and 30% of both copper and manganese. Huzzah!
3. Polyphenols = Optimal Heart Health and Great Skin
Polyphenols are the main group of antioxidants in cocoa, and flavanols are the specific types of polyphenols that make it so good for you. Flavanols encourage your arteries to relax, allowing for more efficient blood flow and lower blood pressure. They also increase your MED, which is the minimal amount of sun exposure needed to cause a burn.
4. More Cocoa = Less Oxidization
This is a little complicated, but basically oxidization is what makes potentially harmful things in your body actually harmful. For example, when LDL or bad cholesterol is oxidized, it has reacted with free radicals (other yucky little like guys you don't want floating around), and has thus become reactive itself. So by reducing oxidization, chocolate lowers your risk of numerous health problems, including cardiovascular disease.
There you have it! So the next time you're feeling guilty about a square or two of afternoon chocolate, remind yourself that you're doing something healthy for your body as well as your soul. Savor it. Thanks for reading! Strawberry kisses :*:*:*
1. Fiber
We all know that fiber is important. It keeps you feeling full longer and helps with digestion. A mere tablespoon of cocoa has 2g of fiber--an incredibly dense amount for such a small portion. Put that in your morning oatmeal!
2. Vitamins
If you have an iron deficiency, perhaps you should try upping your chocolate intake instead of eating more hamburgers. A one ounce portion of dark chocolate (70% cacao or higher), yields about 20% of your daily recommended amount of iron. It also gives you about 20% of your daily magnesium, and 30% of both copper and manganese. Huzzah!
3. Polyphenols = Optimal Heart Health and Great Skin
Polyphenols are the main group of antioxidants in cocoa, and flavanols are the specific types of polyphenols that make it so good for you. Flavanols encourage your arteries to relax, allowing for more efficient blood flow and lower blood pressure. They also increase your MED, which is the minimal amount of sun exposure needed to cause a burn.
4. More Cocoa = Less Oxidization
This is a little complicated, but basically oxidization is what makes potentially harmful things in your body actually harmful. For example, when LDL or bad cholesterol is oxidized, it has reacted with free radicals (other yucky little like guys you don't want floating around), and has thus become reactive itself. So by reducing oxidization, chocolate lowers your risk of numerous health problems, including cardiovascular disease.
There you have it! So the next time you're feeling guilty about a square or two of afternoon chocolate, remind yourself that you're doing something healthy for your body as well as your soul. Savor it. Thanks for reading! Strawberry kisses :*:*:*