Why You Should Eat More Chocolate For A Healthier Life

2. Why You Should Eat
More Chocolate For A
Healthier Life

3. Cacao packs a powerful punch
PackedwithhealthychemicalslikeflavonoidsandTheobromine,thecacaobeanisadiseasekillingbull
etandalsothesourceofchocolate’sdistincttaste.Makesureyourchocolateofchoiceishealthy,withat
least70%cacao.Sincecacaohasahighfatandsugarcontent,limityourselfto7ounces,orabout4chocol
atebarsperweek.

4. Abarofchocolatewithatleast70%ofcocoaisrichin
fiber,iron,magnesium,copper,manganese,potas
sium,phosphorus,zinc,andselenium.Chocolatea
lsohasagreatfattyacidprofile,withfatsbeingmost
lysaturatedandmonounsaturatedwithsmallamo
untsofpolyunsaturatedfats.

5. AccordingtoastudybytheTheJournalofNutrit
ion,regularconsumptionofchocolatebarscon
tainingplantsterolsandcocoaflavanolsmaysu
pportcardiovascularhealthbyloweringchole
sterolandiprovingbloodpressure.

6. A9yearstudyinSwedenofmorethan31,000womenshowedthosewomenwhoate1or2servingsofdark
chocolateeveryweekreducedtheirchanceforheartfaiurebyathird.Anotherstudy,inGermany,showe
dthateatingasquareofchocolateperdayreducesriskforhighbloodpressure,stroke,andheartattackby
39%duetothepresenceofflavonoids.Infact,achocolatebarhasabout5timestheamountofflavonoids
comparedtoapples.

7. Differentareasofthebrainneedmoreenergytocompletetheirtasks,andthus,needgreaterbloodflo
waswell.Thisrelationship,knownasneurovascularcoupling,mayplayanimportantroleinconditions
suchasAlzheimer’s.Hotchocolatecanhelppreservebloodflowinthebrain.

8. Chocolate can help
with weight loss?
Inaway,yes!Darkchocolateismorefillingthatlightercoloredchocolatesandlessenscravin
gsforsweet,salty,andfattyfoods.Therefore,youcaneatasmallerportionofdarkchocolate
thanotherchocolatesandstillsatisfyyourcraving,makingiteasiertosticktoyourdiet.

9. Going out in the sun? Grab a piece of
chocolate!
Theflavonolsfoundincocoacanprotectagainstsun-induceddamage,
improvebloodflowtotheskinandincr
easeskindensityandhydration.

10. Chocolate: Diabetes’
Secret Foe
AccordingtoClaudioFerri,leaderresearcherattheUniversityofL’AquilainItaly,theflavonoidsfoundinc
hocolateincreasenitricoxideproduction.Anincreaseinnitricoxideproductionhelpsinsulinsensitivity
andcandropinsulinresistancebyhalf.

11. Happier Babies
AstudyfromFinlandfoundthatwomenwhoatechocolatedailyduringtheirpregnancywerebetterablet
omanagestressthanwomenwhodidn’t.Thebabiesofthesewomenwerealsohappierandsmiledmore.
Toughchoice:apieceofdarkchocolateorapacifierforyourscreamingbaby’smouth?

12. JJK