Chocolate and Your Health

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I remember when people began jumping out of their skins a few years back when it was suddenly discovered after centuries that the benefits of red wine warranted a glass a day. Hooray! Let the butterflies out of the jar, we're having a party with permission! This was a wonderful coup for all the health and wine-loving folks who'd fought the battle of their consciences for far too long.

Now we find out that chocolate, aside from making us feel fantastic and even as though we're falling in love, may actually be good for us. See this page for more:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20030827/dark-chocolate-is-healthy-chocolate

Apparently, the benefits of dark chocolate, in particular, are many.
The sugar, fat and milk found in many chocolate products can interfere with the health benefits, so be careful with how much you eat and try to go for more organic, darker chocolates.

Flavonoids, plant compounds with potent antioxidant properties, are found in a wide variety of foods including cocoa beans. Other flavanoid-containing foods include red wine, tea, cranberries, peanuts, strawberries, apples and many other fruits and vegetables.

One study found that a substance in cocoa helps the body process nitric oxide (NO), a compound critical for healthy blood flow and blood pressure. Another study showed that flavonols in cocoa prevent fat-like substances in the bloodstream from oxidizing and clogging the arteries, and make blood platelets less likely to stick together and cause clots. This translates into a possibility of lower chance of heart attacks and high blood pressure.

So go ahead and enjoy your chocolate! While you're nibbling, delight in the aroma as well, for they say the smell of chocolate can cause a relaxation effect based on the state of the brainwaves upon taking it in.

For more on this, look over here: http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=8326

Aimee Boyle can be found eating chocolate and updating her blog, which she would like you to comment on, here http://straightandnarrow.yolasite.com

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.