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Chocolate is relaxing. It's calming. It soothes our nerves
and makes us feel good. And we often think of it as a sinful
indulgence. But it doesn't have to be. If you choose your chocolate
wisely, you can enjoy it without the guilty feelings we normally
associate with it.
What Are the Healthy Aspects of Chocolate?
By eating small amounts of the right chocolate, you will enjoy
the many health aspects of chocolate. Chocolate contains high
levels of potassium and magnesium, as well as vitamins B1, B2,
D and E. If that's not reason enough to reach for a daily dose
of chocolate, consider that it can also lower blood pressure
and prevent arteries from hardening, therefore protecting the
heart.
Chocolate is Smart Heart Health
New studies are finding that common beliefs about the effects
of chocolate are not true after all. While we used to associate
chocolate with acne, researchers have now dismissed a possible
link between the two. While some people avoided chocolate because
of the caffeine level associated with it, we now know that a
small serving only contains as much caffeine as a cup of decaffeinated
coffee.
Does chocolate really cause migraines?
Well, only if consumed in large amounts. Again, moderation
plays a big role here. So before you reach for a Hershey bar
of a Snicker's, consider that the chocolate you eat should contain
70% cocoa. This can be found specifically in dark chocolates.
You should invest in a quality dark chocolate and eat it in small
amounts every day to see the health benefits. Make sure you enjoy
each bite and let it melt in your mouth. It will have the same
effect as the recommended single glass of wine per day.
What Kind of Chocolate Offers The Most Health Aspects?
True cocoa is the best chocolate to eat for health reasons.
Not only will it satisfy your sweet tooth, but it will also provide
health aspects beyond what many of us dreamed possible. The recommendation
is to eat two small squares of chocolate per day. We're not talking
about a typical candy bar here. Dark chocolate contains higher
levels of cocoa and lower level of milk and sugar. Choose Wisely.
The best varieties of chocolate are more expensive and are dark
or bittersweet. Good chocolate should only have a few ingredients
on the contents label. In addition, you can buy organic chocolate
or make your own homemade chocolate with a cocoa base.
Healthy Chocolate Snacks
There are some easy ways to get in your daily dose of heart-healthy
chocolate. Try a steamy cup of hot cocoa, fruit dipped dark in
chocolate, chocolate covered almonds or eat the squares of chocolate
by themselves. Hearing that chocolate has health aspects does
not mean we can load up our grocery carts with chocolate bars
though. It is important to adhere to the daily-recommended dose
since it is high in calories. Moderation is a key factor here.
Balance your
caloric intake with a variety of other heart-healthy foods and
reach for the dark chocolate as a cure for your sweet tooth sparingly.
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