Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Chocolate!!!

Chocolate comes in many varieties.  The most common are dark chocolate, milk chocolate,  and white chocolate.  Good News!  Chocolate is good for you!  Dark chocolate that is!  Chocolate contains high levels of polyphenols called flavonoids.  Flavonoids,  which are antioxidants,  are also found in cranberries, apples, onions, spinach, asparagus, tea, and red wine.  Antioxidants fight free radicals.  Free radicals can cause disease.    


High amounts of flavonoids can lower the risk of heart disease.  Cholesterol levels can be slightly lowered by eating Dark chocolate.  Dark chocolate can also lower high blood pressure.  One study also suggests that Dark chocolate has a property similar to aspirin which helps prevent blood clots.  It is found that milk may interfere with the absorption of the antioxidants from the Dark chocolate.  So the Dark chocolate has to be eaten alone.  Not with milk.  Also, as we know, everything in moderation.  Chocolate is high in fat so eating large amounts of the Dark chocolate will negate the health benefits.  I believe the amount of Dark chocolate to eat daily is 100 grams.  So ladies.....a little red wine and a little dark chocolate.......sounds good! 
some info taken from WebMD and eHOW      

2 comments:

  1. I love any article that tells me to eat chocolate every day! Thanks for the info, Elyse! :-)

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  2. Hi Stephanie
    Thank you for the comment. I agree! I have to eat chocolate every day!

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