Is Chocolate Really Good For You?

Eat Well Bee Well

Is chocolate the new superfood? A growing body of evidence suggests chocolate may have more to offer than guilty pleasure... But How Much Should You Eat and Are All Chocolate Made The Same?

Health Benefits

Recent studies show that consuming a healthy amount of chocolate reduces your risk of heart disease by 37% and stroke by 29% !!

But what's in chocolate that makes it so good for you? Loads of potent plant antioxidants called polyphenols, including flavonoids. These are the same good-for-you substances found in blueberries, wine, green tea, and olive oil, as well as many fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These good-for-you substances come from the flavonoid "family" that includes resveratrol, found in grape juice, and EGCG, found in green tea.

in a study, when people consume these substances in chocolate and cocoa, the antioxidant status of their blood increases. This rise in antioxidant levels helps protect us from damage to the heart and blood vessels, while it also guards our DNA from damage that can lead to cancer. In addition, the flavanols and procyanidins in chocolate improve the function and flow of blood vessels and help control inflammation

The antioxidants in chocolate have generated a lot of interest because studies show that these compounds are more powerful antioxidants than EGCG in tea, which is a strong antioxidant.

Yet the flavonoid content of cocoa and chocolate is highly variable. The more cocoa in a chocolate product, the higher the antioxidant flavonoid content is.

Because dark chocolate is more concentrated in cocoa content, it is higher in flavonoids than milk chocolate which usually has no cocoa content

Chocolate's Dark Side

Before you ditch your bowl of fruit for a huge plate of brownies, let's do a quick reality check. A small portion of dark chocolate several times a week can be included as part of a healthy diet. But if you don't already eat chocolate, there's no legitimate health reason to start favoring it now. Chocolate not only is loaded with calories but also has far fewer health-boosting vitamins and minerals than fruit and vegetables do. It also contains caffeine, something that should be minimized in some people's diets. And for some, chocolate may worsen premenstrual symptoms or trigger migraine headaches.

So for now, your best bet for a healthy heart is to eat a balanced diet with lots of veggies and fruit, exercise regularly, and keep stress levels under control. And every now and then, treat yourself to a guilt-free piece of rich, dark chocolate.

For example: A cup of hot or cold cocoa may sound like a health drink loaded with antioxidants, but almost all cocoa drink mixes contain cocoa treated with alkali (also called Dutch cocoa) to produce a darker, richer taste. Unfortunately, this process drastically reduces flavonoid content.

Tips for Chocolate Lovers

Choose dark chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 70%.
Enjoy chocolate in small portions a few times a week. An ounce or two is a sensible serving.
Check the label. Avoid chocolate made with palm or coconut oils or any oil that has been hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated.
Don't drink milk with your chocolate. Studies show that milk may inhibit the body's ability to absorb the chocolate's antioxidants.

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