Eat Healthy - Eat Chocolates.

While growing up as kids you must have heard a lot of times: Don’t eat chocolates, it will ruin your teeth! Well what if I now tell you that there are actually several advantages of chocolates. More importantly, if eaten properly and in right quantity, chocolates are actually beneficial for your health. That’s right. Read more to learn more…

Studies have shown that chocolates - especially dark chocolate – are very beneficial for health. However, as they excess of anything is bad so just because chocolates are good for health does not mean that you now get the license to go on chocolate spree. No more than 100 grams of dark chocolate (about the size of a small bar) should be consumed in a day. Also note that on an average 100 grams of dark chocolate contain about 400 grams of calories. So in order to balance your diet in proper means, you may want to cut on other source of sugar/sweet on days you consume chocolates.

Having said about the appropriate consumption let me tell you the health benefits that come along the sweet glory of chocolate:

1. Low Blood Pressure
For people with high blood pressure, 100 grams of dark chocolate on a daily basis helps in bringing their blood pressure down and maintains it at consistency rate

2. Lower Cholesterol
Studies have shown that dark chocolates reduces LDL cholesterol, which is the bad one, and helps you stay healthy

3. Chocolates stimulate endorphin production in human body and gives you a feeling of pleasure and happiness

4. Chocolates contain serotonin which works as an anti-depressant and also provide guilty pleasure [Remember feelings of newly being in love … result of high serotonin]

5. Two-thirds of fat in dark chocolate is good for your health: oleic acid and stearic acid
Oleic acid - healthy monounsaturated fat (also found in olive oil)
Stearic acid – although saturated fat but proven to have neutral effect on cholesterol

6. Dark chocolates are powerful antioxidant agents. Just to list a few benefits of antioxidants out of the uncountable ones:

a. improved digestion
b. relief from arthritis
c. prevent cancer
d. natural anti-aging product
e. weight loss
f. many many more…

So now you know better to include a small bar of dark chocolate in your daily diet as opposed to avoid chocolates altogether.

13 Reasons Why Chocolate and Anti Aging are Related

I thought I’d give you one of the most delicious anti aging tips I could ever give you, especially for the chocolate lovers among us! Did you know that you can safely eat dark chocolate (also known as cacao) within reasonable amounts and benefit in your battle against aging? The following tips are 14 reasons why you can eat dark chocolate and why it’s good for you: polyphenols, and antioxidants.

1) Dark natural chocolate supports healthy glucose levels:
The modern western diet has caused a surge in the number of people with diabetes. Research has shown that dark chocolate affects glucose blood levels in a positive way.

2) Cacao Promotes Cardiovascular health:
Eating cacao has a positive effect on heart and blood vessels, maintaining healthy cholesterol levels and controlling inflammation.

3) Cacao maintains the power of your brain:
The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties are believed to help protect the brain and promote healthy cognitive and mental functioning. Cacao also effects mood in a good way. Who is not happy when eating chocolate?

4) Anti aging benefits:
High grade dark chocolate (cacao) is a marvelous source of anti-oxidants and other nutrients which help diminish the signs of aging.

5) Dark Chocolate is full of Anti oxidants:
Dark chocolate is full of anti oxidants including epicatechins, flavanols, and anthocyanins.

6) Dark Chocolate Protects the Skin:
The anti-oxidants in cacao can protect the skin from radiation and help to move the blood flow to the skin.

7) Cacao helps your Teeth:
Research has shown that the flavanols will protect your teeth in various ways.

8) Cacao elevates mood:
Cacao increases the manufacture of serotonin, dopamine, anandamide and theobromine which enhance mood. This is probably the reason we feel good when we eat dark chocolate.

9) Dark chocolate helps support healthy inflammation:
Cacao is full of polyphenols which assist with healthy inflammation in the body.

10) Cacao increases energy:
Cacao is full of nutrients which help the body to use energy correctly, without having to eat unhealthy sugar laden snacks.

11) Dark chocolate is delicious:
We can’t argue here - a worthy treat.

12) Dark Chocolate is easily absorbed:
Dark chocolate is easily absorbed by the body when the chocolate is organic.

13) Dark chocolate helps control weight and appetite:
Because of its ability to improve mood, cacao can also help to control appetite and cravings.
Treat yourself to a piece of it today. Dark chocolate has been linked to optimum weight control.

So now you have these anti-aging tips on how dark chocolate can help you fight aging naturally. Be sure to buy organic dark chocolate and don’t eat too much if you are watching your weight. Who would have ever thought that dark chocolate sweetened naturally could help you so much? There are also some organic brands of chocolate out there that have nuts and fruits in them. Yum!