Eat Dark Chocolate to Boost Your Health

Recent research shows that eating a small amount of dark chocolate daily is good for you. Dark chocolate has a high cocoa content. Cocoa contains epicatechin, which is a member of a group of compounds called plant flavonoids. Flavonoids keep cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels, reduce the risk of blood clots, slow down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries and lower blood pressure. Standard chocolate manufacturing destroys up to half of the flavonoids. But chocolate companies have now learned to make dark chocolate that keeps up to 95% of its flavonoids.

Believe it or not, dark chocolate contains more flavonoids than any other food or beverages–-including green tea, black tea, red wine and blueberries.

Dark chocolate also contains potent antioxidants. Antioxidants destroy destructive molecules that contribute to heart disease and cancer.

While a little dark chocolate is good, a lot is not better! Dark chocolate still is loaded with calories. If you’re going to eat more chocolate, you’ll have to cut calories back somewhere else. Most of the research is based on the consumption of 1.6 ounces of dark chocolate per day; this is equivalent to five bite-size Hershey’s dark chocolates. Don’t replace healthy foods with chocolate; most of our diets have plenty of sweets. But if chocolate is your daily treat, then considering switching to dark chocolate for a health boost.