By
Dhruven Patel
Chocolate has always been the bane of anyone on a diet.
Supposedly high in fat and high in calories, it was definitely
considered a no in any diet plan. There is, however, some good news
about chocolate that may have you rethink its value in a healthy diet.
Besides tasting good, chocolate may have some healthy redeeming
qualities.
First of all, it is packed with flavonoids, which can help to raise your good HDL cholesterol.
Secondly, it is rich in antioxidants, which help to combat nasty free radicals, which can cause cell damage. And lastly, chocolate raises those good-feeling chemicals celled endorphins, which help to relax and soothe the jangled nerves of the conscientious dieter.
Dark chocolate is more antioxidants than the lighter milk chocolates. The milk in milk chocolate appears to bind the antioxidants, making them unavailable for use in the body. also, heating chocolate appears to release the antioxidants. So head for the mocha cappuccino, with skim milk, of course, or hot chocolate. There have been some early reports that dark chocolate may even lower blood pressure.
Chocolate is actually good for your heart. Choose dark or bittersweet chocolate, which has three time as many antioxidant compounds as milk chocolate, and keeps the blood platelets from sticking together, which helps to prevent blood clots from forming.
Calorie-wise, a chocolate-covered small mint patty has only 1.5 grams of total fat and 0.8 grams of saturated fat. A small, thin square of dark chocolate has 3.5 grams of fat and 1.5 grams of saturated fat. A good-tasting treat like chocolate should not be avoided if you are a chocolate lover. Small amounts of dark chocolate taken several times a week will not hinder your diet program, besides tasting great. Actually chocolate is a good for weight-loss, since it satisfies your sweet tooth and your brain is hunger mechanism, which prevents you from over-eating. Enjoy!
First of all, it is packed with flavonoids, which can help to raise your good HDL cholesterol.
Secondly, it is rich in antioxidants, which help to combat nasty free radicals, which can cause cell damage. And lastly, chocolate raises those good-feeling chemicals celled endorphins, which help to relax and soothe the jangled nerves of the conscientious dieter.
Dark chocolate is more antioxidants than the lighter milk chocolates. The milk in milk chocolate appears to bind the antioxidants, making them unavailable for use in the body. also, heating chocolate appears to release the antioxidants. So head for the mocha cappuccino, with skim milk, of course, or hot chocolate. There have been some early reports that dark chocolate may even lower blood pressure.
Chocolate is actually good for your heart. Choose dark or bittersweet chocolate, which has three time as many antioxidant compounds as milk chocolate, and keeps the blood platelets from sticking together, which helps to prevent blood clots from forming.
Calorie-wise, a chocolate-covered small mint patty has only 1.5 grams of total fat and 0.8 grams of saturated fat. A small, thin square of dark chocolate has 3.5 grams of fat and 1.5 grams of saturated fat. A good-tasting treat like chocolate should not be avoided if you are a chocolate lover. Small amounts of dark chocolate taken several times a week will not hinder your diet program, besides tasting great. Actually chocolate is a good for weight-loss, since it satisfies your sweet tooth and your brain is hunger mechanism, which prevents you from over-eating. Enjoy!
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Article Source:
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