Love is good for your health and tomorrow
is Valentine's Day which may mean you've got chocolate on your mind. Even though
you may be fearing the amount of calories in those heart-shaped boxes, there
are many reasons to love Valentine's Day sweet treats.
In fact, here are five healthy reasons to eat dark chocolate:
- It helps you exercise longer: A recent study found that eating a tiny amount of dark chocolate before a workout helps fight fatigue, which means you can go that much further during your workout. The amount that worked in the study was tiny — just half a square — but if it's good quality chocolate, a small square will go a long way.
- It's stress relieving: And not just when you're PMSing. A study found that when highly stressed participants ate an ounce and a half of dark chocolate (the equivalent of a Hershey's bar) a day for two weeks, the level of stress hormones in their bodies dropped significantly. While eating a candy bar a day can contribute to a whole new set of stresses if you're watching your weight, it's nice to know that dark chocolate has a measurable effect on stress levels.
- It's heart-healthy: A study found that dark chocolate increases blood flow, which helps keep your ticker in top shape. Those who ate a small amount of chocolate a day had increased blood flow due to more-dilated blood vessels as well as better heart function.
- It's good when you're sick: If you can't get the rest you need because of a nagging cough, try dark chocolate. The theobromine, an ingredient in dark chocolate, has been proven to suppress a cough, but just be careful — if you're trying to go to sleep, remember that a dark chocolate Hershey's bar has 30 milligrams of caffeine, which is the equivalent to a cup of tea
- It lowers blood pressure: Increasing blood flow also helps your heart in another way. A study found that eating a small square of dark chocolate a day helps regulate your blood pressure by increasing blood flow as well as dilating blood vessels and releasing nitric oxide. If you're managing your blood pressure levels, a daily, small dose of dark chocolate may help.
And so, the virtues of dark chocolate just keep coming. Add this good news to the already long list of the benefits of flavonoid-rich dark chocolate, and indulging in that daily decadence sounds like a very good idea indeed. Before you do, however, make sure you keep your chocolate treat healthy by keeping these 3 things in mind, as well.
Make it dark: There's a reason why these studies never mention milk chocolate — all the dairy and sugar in milk chocolate, while delicious, lowers the antioxidant content of your chocolate while upping calorie and fat counts. Instead, look for dark chocolate that's at least 60 to 70 percent cocoa for those high flavonoid concentrations that actually help your health.
Go for high quality: On that note, the kind of chocolate matters; avoid chocolates that use "partially hydrogenated" oils, since these trans fats aren't exactly the healthy ingredients you're looking for and can lead to higher bad cholesterol levels. Consider organic, chemical and preservative free ingredients found in fair trade and sustainable chocolate makers.
Keep it small: Just because it's good for you doesn't mean you have an excuse to go overboard even on Valentine’s Day. Eat too much of any "healthy" treat every day and you'll just be undoing any possible benefits you may be getting. Stick to a square of dark chocolate a day — most people find that this is enough to satisfy sweet cravings, and studies have shown that dark chocolate's benefits are obtained from having just a small amount per day.
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