How could something that tastes so decadent actually be good for you? It almost sounds too good to be true, but dark chocolate is full of nutrients that benefit your health! Studies have shown that plant chemicals in dark chocolate called flavanols have many positive effects on the body including:
- Lowering blood pressure
- Lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol while increasing HDL (good) cholesterol
- Lowering fasting blood sugar
- Decreasing insulin resistance
- Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes
Does that mean I can eat as much chocolate as I want?!
Well, no. Here’s the catch: research has shown that eating only 6.7 grams a day (about a half a bar per week) will give you all the health benefits. If you eat more you’ll diminish the positive effects. Also, this doesn’t include milk chocolate or white chocolate. The milk in these chocolates cancels out the antioxidant effects and they’re loaded with sugar.
Another advantage of dark chocolate is that it’s abundant in oleic acid, the good fat contained in olive oil. The combination of good fat and very small amounts of sugar will help prevent blood sugar spikes that result in sugar cravings.
Choose organic, dark chocolate with a cacao (pronounced kuh-KOW) content of 70% or higher. It’s less sweet and a taste you may have to get used to, but give it a try!
My favorite is Equal Exchange Panama Extra Dark 80% cacao. It’s just sweet enough, creamy, and delicious! Eat it slowly and savor every little bite!
