Better Living Staff Writer
Cacao on its own is
healthy, but bitter and unappealing. That’s where sugar, milk, and butter come
in to turn cacao in to dark chocolate. The things that make the chocolate taste
wonderful are also the things that make it fattening. But the healthy benefits
of dark chocolate still remain if you stick to treats that are at least 70%
cacao. So if you’re jonesing for a sweet treat this Halloween, you should indulge (but not
overindulge) in dark chocolate. Here’s why:
1.
It’s heart healthy: A long-term study
in Germany released in 2012 found that about a square of dark chocolate a day
lowered blood pressure and reduced the risk of heart attack and stroke by 39
percent. This is due to flavonoids, which are antioxidant compounds that
increase flexibility of veins and arteries.
2.
It can make you happy: Dark chocolate
contains phenylethylamine (PEA), which encourages your brain to release
endorphins, which make you feel happy.
3.
Dark chocolate can
help you stick to your diet: Researchers at the University of Copenhagen found that
it is more filling, offering a more satiated feeling than milk chocolate. In
other words, dark chocolate lessens the cravings for sweet, salty, or fatty
foods. A small portion of dark chocolate can help you stay on track!
4.
It helps control
blood sugar:
Dark chocolate helps keep your blood vessels healthy and your circulation ready
to protect against type 2 diabetes. The flavonoids also help reduce insulin
resistance by helping cells function normally and regain the ability to use
your body’s insulin efficiently. It also has a low glycemic index, meaning it
won’t cause huge spikes in blood sugar.
5.
It’s good for your
teeth.
Dark chocolate contains theobromine, which hardens tooth enamel. So it’s a
sweet that actually lowers your risk of getting cavities!
6.
Dark chocolate is
high in vitamins and minerals. It’s high in iron, potassium, magnesium,
and copper!
7.
It’s full of
antioxidants.
Antioxidants help rid your body of free radicals, which cause oxidative damage
to cells. Free radicals are implicated in the aging process and may be a cause
of cancer. So eating dark chocolate can slow down aging and help protect you
from some forms of cancer.
For more information
on healthy foods and living your best life, please call Better Living at (734)
747-0123.
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