Can Dark Chocolate be Healthy?
The world understands that if something tastes good, the product can't be healthy and well balanced for you, right? Well, when you get right down to it, Dark Chocolate, that age old answer doesn't quite apply. Many different studies have been done, and the results are in that Dark Chocolate -- not White Chocolate or Milk Chocolate -- is essentially healthy for you. So, how can something that tastes great, be a good idea for your health? The trick is obtaining as near to the raw, all-natural cocoa as possible - which means going for a higher amount of cacao content in your dark chocolate (think a high cocoa percentage like 62%, 80% or even 90%!). Effectively, the darker the chocolate bar, the healthier it can be to consume.
Healthy Fats
Yet another way which Dark Chocolate might possibly be good for an individual is that it contains healthy fats. There is a blend of saturated fat and monounsaturated fat, with a little bit of polyunsaturated fat within the make-up of these products produced now. The type of monounsaturated fat found in cocoa butter is of the same type that can be found in olive oil, known by many of us as a good quality fat. While quite a few people are very sensitive to the phrase saturated fat, make no mistake that the majority of the saturated fat inside your chocolate is stearic acid that is proven to have a neutral effect on cholesterol levels. So, with this kind of fat profile, you are receiving healthy fats that have been demonstrated to raise the good (HDL) cholesterol and lower the bad (LDL) cholesterol.
Blood Pressure
One principal health trigger that has been found in dark chocolate is a noticeable difference in blood pressure. The potent flavonoid epicatechin which can be found in the raw cacao seed has been confirmed to be favourable for circulatory function. One study, by Dr. Dirk Taubert, showed a decrease in blood pressure by an average of 5 points for his clients who acted according to a 2-week regimen of dark chocolate consumption. The control group, who were given white chocolate, did not show any measurable difference in their blood pressure. Other healthy effects on overall heart health were recognized as well, such as increased insulin sensitivity and reduced cellular inflammation.
Antioxidants
Free radicals tend to be a serious problem for many people today, as well as a large contributor to coronary disease. A very important method to battle free radicals is to get reliable sources of antioxidants in your diet, mostly from fruits and vegetables. Since dark chocolate is made from plants, you can be confident that there is a large concentration of anti-oxidants available in your chocolate bars. Various researches suggest that when you consume milk, your body is unable to absorb anti-oxidants as well, so ensure you pick good quality dark chocolate over milk chocolate. (http://www.manbir-online.com/nutrition/chocolate.htm)
Since you can easily comprehend, there are really many health benefits to the consumption of high quality dark chocolate. After analyzing many studies to bring you these insights, we highly recommend that you get your daily allowance of 100 grams of top quality, high cocoa content chocolate.
Healthy Fats
Yet another way which Dark Chocolate might possibly be good for an individual is that it contains healthy fats. There is a blend of saturated fat and monounsaturated fat, with a little bit of polyunsaturated fat within the make-up of these products produced now. The type of monounsaturated fat found in cocoa butter is of the same type that can be found in olive oil, known by many of us as a good quality fat. While quite a few people are very sensitive to the phrase saturated fat, make no mistake that the majority of the saturated fat inside your chocolate is stearic acid that is proven to have a neutral effect on cholesterol levels. So, with this kind of fat profile, you are receiving healthy fats that have been demonstrated to raise the good (HDL) cholesterol and lower the bad (LDL) cholesterol.
Blood Pressure
One principal health trigger that has been found in dark chocolate is a noticeable difference in blood pressure. The potent flavonoid epicatechin which can be found in the raw cacao seed has been confirmed to be favourable for circulatory function. One study, by Dr. Dirk Taubert, showed a decrease in blood pressure by an average of 5 points for his clients who acted according to a 2-week regimen of dark chocolate consumption. The control group, who were given white chocolate, did not show any measurable difference in their blood pressure. Other healthy effects on overall heart health were recognized as well, such as increased insulin sensitivity and reduced cellular inflammation.
Antioxidants
Free radicals tend to be a serious problem for many people today, as well as a large contributor to coronary disease. A very important method to battle free radicals is to get reliable sources of antioxidants in your diet, mostly from fruits and vegetables. Since dark chocolate is made from plants, you can be confident that there is a large concentration of anti-oxidants available in your chocolate bars. Various researches suggest that when you consume milk, your body is unable to absorb anti-oxidants as well, so ensure you pick good quality dark chocolate over milk chocolate. (http://www.manbir-online.com/nutrition/chocolate.htm)
Since you can easily comprehend, there are really many health benefits to the consumption of high quality dark chocolate. After analyzing many studies to bring you these insights, we highly recommend that you get your daily allowance of 100 grams of top quality, high cocoa content chocolate.
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