Could it be possible that our beloved chocolate may actually be good for us? This is the nutrition news we have all been waiting for. So here is the scoop on chocolate and its health benefits. Yes, you read right, health benefits!
Recent studies show that cocoa and dark chocolate with a high cocoa content contain many heart-healthy antioxidants. They contain a compound called flavonoids which may help prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the blood. There is also some evidence that these flavonoids may prevent certain cancers.
It is important that we are all on the same page here, not all chocolate have these health benefits. The healthy flavonoids found in chocolate are found in the cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Milk chocolate is diluted with milk and sugar and contains little amounts of these substances, therefore providing fewer health benefits. So, for those of you who love dark chocolate this is your lucky day! The darker the chocolate, the higher the cocoa content and the more antioxidants it contains. The quality of the chocolate you consume is also important. The cocoa butter is quite pricey so less expensive brands will replace the cocoa butter with milk fats and hydrogenated oils which are bad for our health. Look for high quality chocolates with their main ingredients being cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Unsweetened cocoa powder is one of the purest forms of chocolate you can eat and is lower in fat and calories than other chocolates.
Although this is great news for all chocolate lovers, don't forget that most chocolate (unless you use unsweetened cocoa powder) does still contain sugar and saturated fat.
And please remember calories. An ounce of chocolate contains around 135 calories. So enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or an ounce of chocolate once in awhile to contribute to your health and not to your waistline!
Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She has received a bachelor's degree in both nutrition and psychology and has extensive experience in nutrition counseling and medical nutrition therapy. She offers individual nutrition counseling and has developed one of the only non-diet online weight management programs available on the internet. Meri specializes in weight management, cardiovascular health, and sports nutrition and consults with professional athletes at Titan Sports Performance Center. Her practice includes teaching people how to eat for endurance, improve vitality, and lose weight healthfully. For more information visit http://www.reallivingnutrition.com
one time home cleaning Morton Grove ..Acid reflux disease, or GERD, is a common compliant of... Read More
People want to get the very best they can when... Read More
Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry capsules are a nutritious, all-natural alternative... Read More
Archeological records indicate that man has cultivated the olive tree... Read More
We know we need to eat a minimum of 5... Read More
BASIC MEAL & MENU PLANNINGAs a basis for meals and... Read More
"It's not what you eat, it's what's eating you that... Read More
Besides providing taste, color, and aroma, certain seasonings can also... Read More
Fibromyalgia is a chronic and potentially life-altering disorder with symptoms... Read More
The latest tallies show that over three million people in... Read More
Factory FarmingThe big names in American agriculture would like you... Read More
Tired of having stare-downs with those boxes of Krispy Kremes,... Read More
Looking into statistics, we can see the average American consumes... Read More
What is your brain made ofOver 50% of your brain... Read More
In this newsletter we will discuss the current controversy about... Read More
Do you want more energy? How about more of the... Read More
America's major dietary deficiency - EFA a panacea for good... Read More
One way to combat the boredom many people complain accompanies... Read More
It is often taken as a given fact that soy... Read More
The first place that we cut corners when we are... Read More
The typical American diet already provides plenty of protein and... Read More
On average 30% of foods in our daily diet are... Read More
Chances are you may have had a food product that... Read More
For the executive, maintaining the much-needed balance between career, family,... Read More
What if I told you tap water and homogenized milk... Read More
eco-friendly cleaning service Glencoe ..Before the thirties, people knew the importance of mineral. Their... Read More
The key to good hydration is drinking a lot of... Read More
The first place that we cut corners when we are... Read More
(ARA) - By now you probably think you've heard all... Read More
As you've probably heard before, your post-workout meal may very... Read More
Why does disease begin in the digestive tract? Your digestive... Read More
In today's world, there's a definite need to be proactive... Read More
Most of us equate the word diet with calorie reduction.... Read More
You're always hungry right? The last thing you have time... Read More
Protein must be a part of a healthy diet for... Read More
These are questions we have to ask ourselves? because after... Read More
I'll preface this article by saying that it will help... Read More
Is the thrill gone? Has the thrill gone out of... Read More
First some terminology.Fructose ... a five carbon sugar that occurs... Read More
Salt was used long before recorded history began. One of... Read More
1. Enjoy what you eatWhether someone is following the Atkins... Read More
Anyone who has spent a day fasting from food, or... Read More
You know about Vitamins A,C, D, E ,and the B's... Read More
Almost every woman suffers with premenstrual syndrome at one time... Read More
Mannatech's patent-pending glyconutrients complex, Ambrotose, is perhaps the greatest wellness... Read More
Spring is in the air and ? summer is around... Read More
THE RISKNo doubt you've heard of the increasingly popular "raw... Read More
Besides providing taste, color, and aroma, certain seasonings can also... Read More
The Human Body is in a constant flux with the... Read More
Summer is the time when we sweat highly and beating... Read More
Nutrition |