Ah, Sweet Chocolate

I am most definitely a “chocaholic.”  I love chocolate, preferably dark chocolate.  Fortunately, if I abide by the “Everything in moderation” tactic, I can enjoy chocolate, because it has antioxidants, which protect the body from the effects of free radicals.  Free radicals can contribute to heart disease.  It makes sense, because chocolate comes from a plant, and many dark colored fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants.

Studies have proven that only dark chocolate provides health benefits.  Milk and white chocolate do not qualify.  Dark chocolate contains eight times as many antioxidants as strawberries!  It is good for your heart and can help keep your cardiovascular system running well.  Studies have shown that eating a small piece of chocolate daily may even lower blood pressure.  It can also reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) by as much as 10%.  Some studies suggest chocolate may reduce the risk of stroke as well.

Dark chocolate stimulates the production of endorphins, providing a feeling of pleasure.  It contains serotonin as well, which can act as an anti-depressant, and theobromine and caffeine, both of which are stimulants, giving us a “pick-me-up.”

Let’s face it, even with all these health benefits, chocolate is high in calories.  Remember I mentioned “moderation?”  If you maintain self-control, you will enjoy the benefits of oleic acid, the same fat contained in olive oil.  But there again, even “good fat” contains high calories.  Saturated fat, the unhealthiest, is also in chocolate, which can increase the risk of heart disease and raise cholesterol.

Most studies that have been done on chocolate are based on about 3½ ounces of dark chocolate daily.  A dark chocolate bar has about 400 calories. If you eat ½ a bar every day, you’re consuming 200 calories that should be replacing 200 calories from the remainder of your daily consumption.  If you add those 200 calories to your diet without cutting anywhere else, no matter how many health benefits there are, you will still gain weight.

When selecting your dark chocolate, look for pure chocolate.  If your chocolate has nuts, nougat, caramel or other fillings, both calories and fat are added, erasing many of the benefits chocolate can provide.  Some research has also shown that drinking a glass of milk with your chocolate may even prevent the antioxidants from being absorbed or used by your body, again negating the benefits.

For quite some time, before learning about the benefits of chocolate, I have been eating one or two bite-size dark chocolates nearly every day.  I get my chocolate “fix” and the health benefits, and I don’t gain weight.  Ah, sweet chocolate.

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Julie Klein, Chocaholic and
Leader of Xpress Healthcare's Winner's Circle Team

http://joinxpresshealthcare.com