Healthy Chocolate

Chocolate which is a hot favorite of most people comes from the cocoa fruit which is one of the healthiest fruits and has a lot of health benefits in it. In its raw form cocoa has the most antioxidant strength in it and is know to have a lot of benefits as far as cardio vascular health is concerned. Cocoa reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes and blood clots. The antioxidant content in cocoa is thrice as much as that in green tea and twice as much as what is found in red wine.

Apart from these health benefits cocoa which is an ingredient in healthy chocolate has anti aging properties and also anti inflammatory ones.

It is a rich source of B vitamins, manganese, potassium, copper, zinc, calcium, sulphur and magnesium. Heart problems are often the result of a diet which is lacking in magnesium. Sulfur builds strong hair and nails and promotes good skin. This is because sulfur detoxifies the liver and improves the functions of the pancreas.

It is the flavanols in cocoa which reduce the stickiness in blood platelets and prevents them from sticking to each other and causing strokes, heart attacks and blood clots. This is done without any of the negative effects of medications like blood thinners and aspirin.

healthy dark chocolate

Healthy dark chocolate is rich in flavanol which is an antioxidant. Cocoa contains a lot more of this concentrated health food than any other natural foodstuff does. None of the other fruits like blueberries, prunes and acai berries have the same concentration of antioxidants in them. These antioxidants are absorbed by the body much faster that those available in other fruits and vegetables and also last longer in the system. Cocoa also has the amino acid Tryptophan which prevents depression and maintains a positive outlook in people. The neurotransmitter serotonin promotes feeling which are positive with cocoa consumption. Apart form this cocoa has anandamide, phenyl ethylamine and dopamine which are not just healthy for the heart but also for the brain.

The mental alertness and concentration is improved with phenyl ethylamine. Healthy chocolate contains this ingredient which is especially beneficial to students who are about to write their exams and also delays or even prevents memory lapses in older people. Dementia can be prevented in the aged by consuming dark healthy chocolate. Dark chocolate is also beneficial to diabetics as it increases the sensitivity to insulin. With all the goodness which is packed into dark chocolate and the health benefits it is undoubtedly a great gift for someone you care for.

Healthy chocolates

Dark chocolate which is healthy chocolate is an appetite suppressant and this helps with weight reduction. Many of the products used for weight loss have cocoa added to them for suppressing the appetite. The fat which is in cocoa butter is a healthy fat and is good for the heart. This is very similar to the monounsaturated fat in olive oil and raises the level of HDL cholesterol which is known as the good cholesterol.

Healthy chocolates also help those who are tobacco smokers as they require antioxidants which are present in cocoa and neutralize the effects of free radicals. The toxic effects of smoking tobacco are neutralized by the antioxidants in cocoa. Dark chocolate is also known to prevent arteries from hardening according to recent studies. Smoking hardens the walls of the arteries and also increases the platelets which are clot forming, while antioxidants in cocoa nullify it. Flavanols in cocoa like epicatechis prevent the fatty substances from clogging the arteries and causing cardio vascular problems.

Healthy chocolate bars

There is a new kind of healthy chocolate bar being introduced into the market in the United States which can reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol. These healthy chocolate bars improve the function of endothelial’s and include some vitamins, cocoa flavonols and also plant sterols. These healthy chocolate bars will be sold in the section where health foods are sold in drug stores or in grocery stores. The caloric content of these bars is also low and there is only the pleasure of eating chocolate flavor involved without the fear of gaining weight. The makers of these healthy chocolate bars also suggest that these cocoa flavonols can bring about improved functions of the vascular system because they will delay the oxidation of the LDL cholesterol and reduce the platelets which cause clotting. The flavonols are most often destroyed while the cocoa is being processed but the new bar has developed a process which keeps the flavonols active and does not destroy them.

In a research which was conducted on people with raised cholesterol levels it was found that regular consumption of these healthy chocolate bars reduced the LDL levels considerably making it a healthy snack for everyone. At the same meeting a study was presented which showed that the cocoa flavonols increased the synthesis of nitric oxide by the arteries and improved the flow of blood in diabetics. This showed that there would be long term benefits in treating vascular diseases in diabetics. The blood flow to the brain was also improved and would be beneficial in treating conditions like stroke and dementia.

Healthy chocolate recipes

Healthy chocolate recipes are the ones which contain the dark chocolate and have lower quantities of fat in them. Chocolates which are specially made for diabetics and are sugar free also contain less of fat in them as both fat and sugar are bad for those with diabetes. While making home made chocolates and puddings and other desserts it is best to choose healthy chocolate recipes so that there is less of fat and sweet content in them. These recipes will be more beneficial for health and will prevent and reduce the risk of cardio vascular degeneration. The overall benefits of cocoa will be lost if the fat content is too much in these foods and also if the sugar content is too much. Instead find recipes which are healthy and which have only the benefits which cocoa and dark chocolate can give you.

Submitted on February 2, 2011