Nutrition:
Chocolate has been linked to:
- lower blood pressure
- less memory loss
- reduced heart disease
- diminished cholesterol
- reduced stroke risk
- improve insulin resistance
Is Chocolate Good For Me?....
A recent meta-analysis says yes! Eating chocolate does benefit our health. However, health benefit is impacted by food processing, added ingredients (sugar) and energy density (or calories) which can adversely impact weight gain. Choosing chocolate with a high level of flavanoids will influence health benefits. The higher the cocoa content the more antioxidants present. Choosing chocolate with at least 70% cacao and lower amounts of sugar and fats is the best way to go. As for the best dose, that has yet to be determined.
Reference: Cocoa and Chocolate in Human Health and Disease (Katz et al ) in Antioxid Redox Signal. 2011 Nov 15; 15(10).