Health
Benefits of Dark Chocolates
We have known for a long
time that you have to cut back on sweets if you want to lose weight, maintain a
healthy heart and live as long as possible. Right? However, new evidence shows
otherwise, at least where dark chocolates are concerned. It seems that high
blood pressure and even heart disease may be helped by dark chocolate rather
than exacerbated by it.
When reading this
information don't let it go to your head too much. Yes, dark chocolates have
been shown to be beneficial. But that doesn't mean you should eat too much of
it or that you have free reign over white chocolate or even milk chocolate.
It's dark chocolates we are talking about here.
In several studies dark
chocolate has lowered high blood pressure in many participants. That is great
news and while chocolate is enjoyable to eat it is also a lot healthier than
prescription drugs. Remember, though, that you can't just eat all the chocolate
you want. You can eat some and if you have mild high blood pressure and are of
a certain age then the dark chocolate will more than likely help you. But, you
must balance your caloric intake and know that if you are eating dark chocolate
that you will need to cut calories elsewhere.
Believe it or not, but
dark chocolate also has antioxidants. However, you must eat it alone. Don't
accompany the dark chocolate with a big glass of milk or else you will
eliminate the antioxidant effect. Antioxidants are great because they attack
and eliminate free radicals, the culprits of many diseases including heart
disease. A study with 13 individuals ages 55-64 who had mild high blood
pressure took part in a study. Half were given a 100 gram dark chocolate candy
bar and the other half a 100 gram white chocolate candy bar. They had to
eliminate 480 other calories from their diet to make up for eating the
chocolate. Over the course of the two week study the individuals who ate the
dark chocolate saw a significant drop in their blood pressure. In fact, the
average was five systolic points and two diastolic points.
The individuals who ate
white chocolate did not see the same results. Another study used the same
amount of people but in the 25-35 age range. They ate 100 grams of dark
chocolate one day, 100 grams of dark chocolate with a small glass of milk
another day, and finally 200 grams of milk chocolate. The study found that
eating dark chocolate by itself results in the most total antioxidants in the
blood. Many of us prefer milk chocolate to dark chocolate because it is
smoother, sweeter and not as bitter. But, it is dark chocolate that makes the
health difference and it is still sweet and good. So, why is dark chocolate the
answer? It's because it contains cocoa phenols, which lower blood pressure. If
you want to try this remedy then cut out bad things in your diet like colas, carnival
foods, and the like to make up for the 500 plus calories in a bar of chocolate.
Then you can have your chocolate and enjoy the cardiovascular benefits!
Remember to take good care of your teeth as well when eating all that chocolate
because tooth health has a direct connection to cardiovascular health. Now, go
buy you some dark chocolate.
Caitlina Fuller is a
freelance writer. In several studies dark chocolate has lowered high blood
pressure in many participants. That is great news and while chocolate is
enjoyable to eat it is also a lot healthier than prescription drugs. Remember,
though, that you can't just eat all the chocolate
[http://www.sugarstand.com/articles/diabetes-and-chocolates-two-can-mix.htm]
you want. You can eat some and if you have mild high blood pressure and are of
a certain age then the dark chocolate will more than likely help you. But, you
must balance your caloric intake and know that if you are eating dark chocolate
that you will need to cut calories elsewhere. If you want to try this remedy
then cut out bad things in your diet like colas, carnival foods
[http://www.sugarstand.com/articles/the-many-joys-of-carnival-foods.htm], and
the like to make up for the 500 plus calories in a bar of chocolate.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Caitlina_Fuller/82161
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