Article: Health by Chocolate
by Roslyn Franken
We've all heard the expression 'Death by Chocolate'. In
honour of Valentine's Day let's explore the idea of 'Health by Chocolate' instead.
Many of us have heard that chocolate is actually good for
you. There is some truth in that indeed so with Valentine's right around the corner, what
a perfect time to explore what this really means so you can enjoy your chocolate
'guilt-free' with the power of food wisdom and awareness in your corner.
Research studies in two prestigious scientific journals say dark chocolate -- but not
white chocolate or milk chocolate -- is good for you. If you're already a dark chocolate
lover like me, then just remember that the darker the better. For all you milk and white
chocolate lovers, you may want to think twice and give dark chocolate a try. Here's why.
1. Dark Chocolate Lowers Blood Pressure
"Dark chocolate -- not white chocolate -- lowers high blood pressure", say
Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Cologne, Germany. Their report
appears in The Journal of the American Medical Association.
Having said this, please do not interpret this to mean that you should just go ahead
and over-indulge on dark chocolate and turn it into a free-for-all. Yes, incorporating
dark chocolate into a healthy diet can help lower blood pressure -- if you've reached a
certain age and have mild high blood pressure, say the researchers. To keep your health
and weight in check you'll need to balance the extra calories by eating less of other
things. The danger here is that you do not want to replace healthy foods with chocolate.
Because of the the high calorie content, it really comes down to portion control.
Researchers say that a 1.6 oz portion of high quality dark chocolate is the recommended
serving size for health benefits. At about 228 calories, you're going to want to be very
mindful of how you incorporate these excess calories into a balanced diet. Regular
physical activity can help offset these extra calories.
Why is dark chocolate the best choice? It is because of the plant phenols or cocoa
phenols, to be exact. These compounds are known to lower blood pressure.
Chocolates made in Europe are generally richer in cocoa phenols than those made in the U.S.
so if you're going to 'go for it' then invest a bit more and get yourself the best.
2. Dark Chocolate is Heart Healthy
What you may not know is that studies show that dark chocolate -- but not milk
chocolate or dark chocolate eaten with milk -- is a potent antioxidant making it heart
healthy. Antioxidants eat up free radicals, those nasty molecules implicated in heart
disease and other health problems. According to findings, the milk has been shown to
interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate which means it may negate the
potential health benefits that can be derived from eating moderate amounts of dark
chocolate.
So again, all this to say, that the darker the chocolate, the greater the health
benefits, when eaten in moderation as part of an overall healthy balanced diet. Just don't
give in to that craving to eat it with a glass of milk.
Now you know the benefits of dark chocolate. So if you're going to have your chocolate
this Valentine's Day, eat it wisely and go dark. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Roslyn Franken is a proud cancer survivor who has also overcome
her battles with food, weight and healthy lifestyle obstacles. She provides Motivational
Speaking and Lifestyle Coaching programs for Healthy Weight Loss and Stress Management to
teach and promote the principles in her ground breaking book, The A List: 9 Guiding
Principles for Healthy Eating and Positive Living. For more information and to join
Roslyn's mailing list for healthy tips, recipes and special anouncements, visit RoslynFranken.com
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Roslyn Franken is a proud cancer survivor who has also overcome
her battles with food, weight and healthy lifestyle obstacles. She provides Motivational
Speaking and Lifestyle Coaching programs for Healthy Weight Loss and Stress Management to
teach and promote the principles in her ground breaking book, The A List: 9 Guiding
Principles for Healthy Eating and Positive Living. For more information and to join
Roslyn's mailing list for healthy tips, recipes and special anouncements, visit RoslynFranken.com
For
more information, visit www.roslynfranken.com
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