Why Chocolate Contributes To Good Health

So many of us LOVE chocolate, don't we? We love the bitter and sweet taste aspects, along with the creamy texture and the oh-so seductive aroma. All these qualities contribute to our love of chocolate. However, not all chocolate is created equally. White chocolate and milk chocolate do not possess the health benefits of deep, dark chocolate.

Deep, dark chocolate has several advantages over its paler counterparts. First, dark chocolate is lower in sugar and it comes with a higher percentage of cocoa and cocoa fat which is a healthy fat. That healthy fat is called monounsaturated oleic acid. It's the same kind of fat as you will find in olive oil. We have been hearing for years about the exceptional heart-healthy benefits of olive oil.

Another reason to choose dark chocolate is directly related to those who are lactose or casein intolerant. Dark chocolate is a better choice when it doesn't contain milk. Be sure to read the label carefully when looking for milk-free chocolate.

Dark chocolate is high in a special class of antioxidants called which are called flavonoids. These help keep free radicals, destructive substances formed as by-products from normal daily activities such as breathing, under control. Dark chocolate is high in a particular antioxidant called flavanol which has been shown to increase vascular health by lowering blood pressure. Flavanol also improves blood flow to the brain and heart. Another plus is that this powerhouse antioxidant can also make blood platelets less sticky. These all add up to making deep, dark chocolate a heart-healthy choice. You might even say, "The darker - the better," when it comes to chocolate.

There are a few folks who don't like the taste of chocolate or have an allergy to it. They can also receive the benefits of flavanol by eating cranberries, apples and onions. It is also found in several red wines and in tea. The best red wines with the highest antioxidant benefits are pinots, merlots, and syrahs. For those who do enjoy dark chocolate, these same red wine choices will pair very well with your chocolate. It's an indulgence that reaps health benefits!

Red wine and dark chocolate share another health benefit: the flavonoid resveretrol. This tongue twister is pronounced RES-VEER-ETRAWL. Along with having heart-healthy benefits, it is considered anti-aging. Plus, it has been found to lower blood sugar.

Perhaps you have not acquired a taste for the bitterness of dark, dark chocolate. There's still hope. A great way to start is by slowly increasing the percentage of cocoa found in the chocolate you purchase. Many milk chocolate choices have a 35 percent cocoa content. Anything over 70 percent is considered healthy. By slowly adding a few percentage points to your chocolate choices, you will slowly notice an increase in the taste tolerance you have for the more bitter varieties. Over time you will come to enjoy the darker chocolates and benefit from their health-enhancing qualities.

Experiment! Have fun! After all, not only does it taste great - it's good for you too.

Free health tips at http://www.solutionthroughnutrition.com/
Sandi Thompson, NTP, Certified Wellness Coach, Professional Speaker
Sandi Thompson at Solutions Through Nutrition specializes in weight management and lifestyle changes for better, lasting health. Discover your individual nutritional needs.
The vision of Solutions Through Nutrition is, "Improving the way America eats, one dining room table at a time."
Sandi Thompson works primarily with women 50+ to create lasting change and reach their goal of better health.

Original article

Are There Any Health Benefits To Eating Chocolate?

Women (and men) across the world want to know - are there any health benefits to eating chocolate? Extremely popular with people across the world, chocolate is creamy, decadent, and easily mixed into milk and made into hot chocolate easily. In fact, it is one of the world's most popular foods. When research came out that chocolate may actually be good for you, consumers rushed to find out more. It turns out that the type and amount that you consume is critical in deciding overall health benefits.

Health Benefits

Chocolate is derived from the cocoa bean. Cocoa beans are known for having high levels of flavanols and antioxidants. Flavanols are known for being able to fight free radical damage from outside sources like pollution, certain diseases, and bad nutrition. Flavanols also help to improve vascular health by lowering blood pressure, promoting blood flow to the brain, and improving overall circulation in the body. Antioxidants also help to protect the body from free radical damage from environmental pollutants. It is important to note that cocoa beans and chocolate are not the only source of antioxidants and flavanols for our diets. Many fruits and vegetables also contain high levels of each.

Choose Wisely

When eating chocolate for good health, it is also important to remember that the type and quantity of chocolate you are eating is very important. Chocolate laced with high fat additives and lots of sugar is not necessarily good for you. The best choice seems to come from dark chocolate that is minimally processed by manufacturers. White chocolate and milk chocolate can contain high levels of sugar and added fats that hinder the good nutritional benefits of eating chocolate.

Eating small amounts is also important. One ounce a few times a week seems to be the optimal amount to achieving health benefits. Scientists and nutritionists seem to be encouraged that drinking a glass of red wine with one ounce of dark chocolate a few times a week can help you reach optimum health benefits from each.

However you choose to eat chocolate, it is important to remember that dark chocolate that is minimally processed is the best choice if you want to get the most health benefits. Dark chocolate does not loose the high levels of flavanols or antioxidants that can improve health and reduce overall damage to the body from outside toxins in the environment. What's your favorite way to eat chocolate?

Get the best nutrition chocolate can offer with raw organic cacao powder from ViJuvenate.

Original article

Chocolate - The Health Benefits of Chocolate

Science has confirmed with many studies and research that eating chocolate is indeed healthy. Researchers have found that dark chocolate in particular has both emotional and physical health benefits when consumed in healthy portions. Chocolate has properties that increase mental awareness as well as a multitude of health benefits for our body. Studies have also shown that people who eat two to three chocolate bars a month live longer than those that don't consume any chocolate.

Researchers have found that consuming chocolate increases the dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain indicating that this food has an antidepressant effect. Also, chocolate helps to decrease fat intake by curbing a person's appetite for fats. In addition, one of the properties of cocoa is that it has the overall effect of decreasing appetite.

The chocolate that is most beneficial to our health is dark chocolate. One of the main ingredients of dark chocolate is cacao that contains flavonoids, and these are an excellent source of antioxidants that protect our bodies from the effects of free radicals that can be very damaging.

Unfortunately, we are always being threatened by free radicals from the air that we breathe and the different foods that we consume. Eating foods that have plenty of flavonoids also helps our immune system and helps the body fight diseases such as cancer, asthma, allergies, and type2 diabetes.

The flavonoids that are found in Cocoa prevent harmful clots from forming that may cause damage to the heart and other areas of the body. These flavonoids also allow increased blood flow by aiding the blood vessels to dilate with ease. In addition, cocoa has properties that aid in the stopping the inflammatory process that can be very damaging to the body.

Dark chocolate also helps your heart by helping your vessels retain their flexibility. And, it helps with your body's blood circulation therefore improving your blood pressure levels. Also, epicatechin, a nutrient found in chocolate, helps to avoid heart attacks and strokes by relaxing and widening our blood vessels.

Cocoa is known to reduce cardiovascular problems by increasing the amount of good cholesterol (HDL) in the body. HDL is responsible for cleaning and removing the harmful fats from the body's blood vessels.

In fact, several years ago a study was conducted in Germany with over nine thousand participants, and it revealed that people who ate on an average more than seven grams of chocolate daily had lower risks of stokes and heart attacks, and they also experienced lower blood pressure levels.

Cocoa and dark chocolate are also a good source for the fiber needs of our diet. And, believe it or not chocolate hardly contains cholesterol, and if it does it is because of the milk ingredients that are added. Chocolate is a food that is derived from a plant and plants do not produce cholesterol.

Source of Vitamins and Minerals

Dark chocolate is a great source of vitamins and minerals. It is full of magnesium and iron, and it also contains vitamin B that helps to boost your energy levels. It also contains copper and potassium that are important for maintaining good health.

The magnesium levels that are found in a dark chocolate bar typically contain over 12% of the body's daily requirement. This is important preventing chronic diseases like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular health problems.

History

Chocolate first appeared in the Mayan and Aztec cultures approximately 4000 years ago. The cacao plant is thought to have originated in the Amazon region and is the main ingredient in chocolate. According to Aztec legend their god Quetzalcoatl gave the cacao tree to the Aztec people. He taught them how to prepare the seeds by roasting and grinding them to form a paste that could be mixed with water. This mixture became known to the Aztec's as chocotatl and they believed that it provided a person with knowledge and wisdom when consumed.

Chocolate was introduced to Spain by the Spanish conquistadores in the 1500s. The Spaniards added different condiments and sweeteners to enhance its flavor. Chocolate was considered a delicacy among the wealthy and became the favorite drink in Europe until it was replaced by coffee and tea in the 19th century.

In the twentieth century solid chocolate bars were introduced in Europe. At about this time the cocoa bean was discovered to have beneficial health properties, and that's when the popularity for chocolate began to surge.

Chocolate as Part of Your Diet

If you are going to include chocolate as part of your diet, then what is recommended is dark chocolate. Eat the amount that is healthy for your daily nutritional needs. Whether you like your dark chocolate with nuts or just plain, dark chocolate is the best choice. Always try to avoid any fillings in chocolate, such as nougat or caramel, these fillings just add extra calories.

The whole purpose of eating pure dark chocolate is for its health benefits aside from its delicious taste. A person should not consume more than three and a half ounces of chocolate per day. This is the recommended amount of chocolate to eat to be on the healthy side.

And, just because you are eating chocolate does not mean that you are receiving its healthy benefits. Avoid consuming dark chocolate while drinking milk because this prevents the antioxidants from being absorbed by your body. There are also several types of chocolates that are not healthy for you because they're loaded with fats and sugar.

Here is a list of top quality dark chocolate bars:

Dagoba Eclipse - 87% Cacao

Green and Black's Dark - 85% Cacao

Valrhona Noir Extra Amer - 85% Cacao

Scharffen Berger Extra Dark - 82% Cacao

Chocolove XOXOX Extra Strong Dark - 77% Cacao

Chocolate is great to eat because of its health benefits and nutritional value, but like everything else if we consume too much of a good thing it can also be bad. So, the next time that you are eating a delicious dark chocolate bar think of all of the health benefits that you are receiving, but just remember to eat with moderation.

For more helpful articles like this, visit our blog and our livejournal blog, your best resource for healthy tips and cooking tips. We provide the most important info that you need to know about kitchen appliances and cooking in general.

Original article

Making The Most Of Chocolate's Health Benefits

Chocolate is being touted as one of the modern super foods, and it is true that flavonoid compounds present on dark chocolate are powerful antioxidants and highly beneficial. But on the other hand, chocolate is also heavy on fats and energy, so it's not a great idea to eat too much of it.

Chocolate, specially dark chocolate, has 8 times more antioxidants than healthy super foods such as strawberries, and those antioxidants play a key role protecting the body from free radicals, widely accepted to be one of the main causes of skin and tissue ageing. The flavonoids present in dark chocolate also help the body regulate high blood pressure by producing nitric oxide, and are said to help balance the hormonal system as well.

Chocolate also helps balance your mood, as it contains serotonin which is a natural anti-depressant, and it tastes good so that alone helps already. So incorporating moderate amounts of dark chocolate into your diet is beneficial for your health without any doubt.

However, this doesn't mean you should make chocolate the centre of every other meal, as you need to take into account that chocolate is also rich in fats and calories. Most chocolates also come with plenty of milk, sugar and caramel in the form of nougats and fillings, so that increases the calories and reduces the nutritional value. So if you want to make the most of chocolate, take the following into account:

Keep An Eye On The Calories

Chocolate is healthy, but it's also highly caloric and the diet varieties often lose a lot of the benefits along with the fat. So if you want to eat chocolate, remember to check what else are you eating to keep your calorie intake balanced.

Choose Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is richer in antioxidants and have a stronger taste, which means you'll feel satisfied with less. This makes it much more healthy than the more milky alternatives, or those with nuts and caramel nougat or other fillings.

Enjoy Each Bite

Learning to savour chocolate and enjoy each bite means you'll eat less and enjoy it more. This way you can enjoy the health benefits of eating chocolate, without gaining weight or ingesting unhealthy amounts of sugar.

Cook Your Own Chocolate Dishes

Instead of buying industrial chocolate snacks and cakes that are often overflowing with refined sugars and other not so healthy chemicals, you could instead follow some chocolate recipes and make your own desserts, making sure you use high quality chocolate and natural ingredients for best results.

Original article