EVERYONE LOVES CHOCOLATE RIGHT? Of
course when we think of healthy habits chocolate isn’t the first thing that
comes to mind, but did you know chocolate helps you maintain a healthier body weight? Studies show people who eat chocolate lower obesity and body mass index (BMI)
although they are consuming more calories and exercising less, yet they still
maintain lower BMI. Crazy right? Well, don’t feel bad the next time you eat
chocolate especially DARK chocolate. Milk chocolate does not have the same
concentrations of the good stuff, and white chocolate doesn’t have any
chocolate in it at all. Can you believe it? According to the FDA:
“White chocolate contains
cocoa butter, milk solids, sugar, lecithin and flavorings (usually including
vanilla). Cocoa butter is the fat from cocoa beans, extracted from the cocoa
beans during the process of making chocolate and cocoa powder. Cocoa butter has
very little 'chocolate' flavor”. Which technically makes white chocolate not
chocolate.
Chocolate has the same benefits
of coffee and tea and other compounds in dark chocolate, like "polyphenols, help
improve circulation and prevent blood clots. Dark chocolate can be beneficial
in protecting your heart against cardiovascular disease". As little as
2 oz. of dark chocolate daily can reduce the risk of heart attack and
stroke. Research has shown that men and women who consume dark chocolate reduce their risk of a heart
attack and stroke by nearly 40 percent.
Dark chocolate isn’t only
good to eat it, it also good for the brain. Eating dark chocolate daily can
also help diabetics control their blood sugar.
"7 Proven Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate:
- · Dark Chocolate is very Nutritious
- · Dark Chocolate is a Powerful source of Antioxidants
- · Dark chocolate may improve blood flow and lower blood pressure
- · Dark Chocolate raises HDL and Protects LDL against Oxidation
- · Dark chocolate may lower risk of Cardiovascular disease
- · Dark Chocolate may protect your skin against the sun
- · Dark chocolate may improve brain function"
Although after reading the 7 benefits of chocolate the thought of indulging in chocolate seems like a great idea but, that does not mean you should go out and go into a chocolate coma. It is still full of lots of calories and very easy to overeat. Try
having a square or two after dinner and be sure to savor the flavor.
Eating chocolate alone isn't going to get you healthy. Remember to eat moderately and live a healthy life.
References:
Gunnars,
K. (2015, November). 7 Proven Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate (No. 5 is
Best). Retrieved from
http://authoritynutrition.com/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate/
J.
(2016, February 12). Chocolate is a Healthy Habit | Healthy Habits. Retrieved
from https://www.healthyhabits.com/hh_news/chocolate-healthy-habit/
As a big lover of chocolate, I really enjoyed and appreciate this blog. I had heard that dark chocolate was good for you but I never knew how or to what extend. But now I know it has many benefits including improving blood circulation and preventing blood clots. I also never expected it to protect your skin. This was so interesting and I really enjoyed reading it. Great work!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the greatest blogs I've seen! I never knew any of this. I love all the facts and all the connection to other chocolate and the benefits. I had fun reading this lol. Good job. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteThis post is very informative and helpful for everyone. I knew that dark chocolate was good for you, but I did not know all the good outcomes it had for your body. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate. I knew dark chocolate had a lot of benefits, but I didn't know it also helped the brain. It's cool how chocolate can help people lose weight even if they don't exercise. I liked how you included in your post that people shouldn't go into a chocolate coma, because of well, calories.
ReplyDeleteThis was great post and is a great eye catcher! Yes, most people love chocolate and you have opened a new door in peoples minds that assures there is a healthy side to chocolate and thats awesome! Great job!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post! I really enjoyed reading this. I feel that people correlate chocolate and weight gain. You have opened my eyes and made me realize that chocolate can be healthy in moderations. Great post!
ReplyDeleteLoved reading this post! I love chocolate so it was interesting to see what information you had. I think its an eye opener that chocolate doesn't always have to mean weight gain as well as a bad thing to enjoy. Great information!
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate. I really enjoyed reading this post. The pictures made the post very attractive. I wish I would have thought about adding pictures to my post.
ReplyDeleteIt has always been speculated that dark chocolate has some positive health effects. To hear the scientific facts behind it is comforting. It makes me feel better about my occasional indulgence. It also surprised me to learn that white chocolate contains no chocolate at all! Crazy! Great job.
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate and everything that chocolate does to the body, but having an understanding of the true power of the treat is important. The information that you've provided is important and truly it helpful. The information is important because it introduces the science within.
ReplyDelete