Chocolate Might Be Good For You?

Just in time for Valentine's Day.  Less guilt about giving and eating those valentine chocolates?  Recent reports link chocolate consumption to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. While previous studies have suggested the flavonoid compounds in dark chocolate might have heart benefits, newer findings also associated milk-chocolate consumption with reduced risk because milk chocolate does have flavonoids about 75 milligrams per 100 grams.  Dark chocolate has 170 milligrams per 100 grams. 

So does this give us free reign to eat more chocolate as a way to protect us from a heart attack?  Not exactly, because even with the good benefits, chocolate also has fat and sugar.    Enjoy chocolate once in awhile (maybe event once a day) but do not consider it a cure.  Substitute chocolate for other high calorie snacks that you might consume.  Dark chocolate is a better choice and eat it in the purest form possible.  That piece of chocolate cake has even more calories and fat than the small piece of chocolate and less health benefits.

Eat your piece of chocolate like you love it.  Savor every nibble and fully experience the rich flavor.  Eating chocolate slowly will help you eat less chocolate and crave it less.

Below is a link to an article that describes the research articles and their conclusions.


Is Chocolate Actually Good For Your Heart?