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Is Dark Chocolate Good for You?

Dark Chocolate and Your Heart

One good thing about a lot of the new medical research being reported is that things once considered forbidden for any health conscious individual are now okay again.

Of course some people might question why things like wine, beer, coffee or bread which were perfectly acceptable foods to countless generations that came before us, suddenly turned into such sinister things. That question is beyond my ability to answer.

So let’s look at the latest good news. Researchers in Italy studied the effects of chocolate on health and came to the conclusion that rich dark chocolate is actually good for you.

It seems to have some of the same effects that vitamin C exhibits, namely in helping the body use insulin more effectively and lowering blood pressure.

The study used dark chocolate and white chocolate – which isn’t really chocolate since it contains no cocoa solids.

Those who enjoyed 100 grams of dark chocolate daily for 15 days had lower blood pressure and better insulin function. The theory is that dark chocolate contains flavonoids that lower the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

Those who ate white chocolate exhibited no such change.

Another study of older men in The Netherlands, known for its luscious chocolate, indicated those who ate the equivalent of one-third of a chocolate bar every day had lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of death.

Dark chocolate is high in fat and dense in calories, so it might not be the best food to live on, especially if you’re overweight.

And recent studies on the effects of fat on women’s health threw the whole nutritional establishment on its ear.

Dr. Jules Hirsch, Physician in Chief Emeritus at Rockefeller University, who has spent his career studying the effect of diet on weight and health has stated that “They (the studies) should put a stop to this era of thinking that we have all the information we need to change the whole national diet and make everybody healthy.”

So who knows if chocolate will cure all ills? I strongly suspect it will do no harm if eaten in moderation.

If you want to try this out, have a piece or two of nice dark and rich chocolate with a glass or two of a fine red wine at night. Your life will be fuller for it and, if you’re lucky, you’ll live longer because of it.

Dark Chocolate Update

New European studies have concluded that dark chocolate may be as effective in lowering blood pressure levels as many drugs prescribed for this purpose.

The researchers warn that the studies were short term and no one should switch from their prescribed medications to dark chocolate just yet.

Dan's Chocolates offers fine fresh handmade chocolates that would fit the bill perfectly.

For another source of healthy, organic, 70% dark chocolate, visit Chocolate for Health.

This dark chocolate not only helps you feel and sleep better, it may also improve memory, reduce blood pressure. It has a low glycemic index, is full of antioxidants and omega 3's , helps with weight loss, is vegan and promotes wellness without drugs.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be taken as medical advice.

 

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