Chocolate - The Magic Powder
Chocolate - The Magic Powder
© LACRÈM
That delicious Valentine’s Day chocolate that you munched through last month - if it is the right kind - may be beneficial for your health. Until recently, chocolate was on the forbidden foods list for people with high levels of cholesterol because of its high levels of fat and sugar. However, researchers at the University of l’Aquila in Italy, found that eating a small amount, about 6 gr. (one square) of dark chocolate significantly improves blood pressure.
That delicious Valentine’s Day chocolate that you munched through last month - if it is the right kind - may be beneficial for your health.
Until recently, chocolate was on the forbidden foods list for people with high levels of cholesterol because of its high levels of fat and sugar. However, researchers at the University of l’Aquila in Italy, found that eating a small amount, about 6 gr. (one square) of dark chocolate significantly improves blood pressure.
Apart from protecting your heart and skin, chocolate also: tastes good stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants.
But despite the benefits of dark chocolate, Dr Claudio Ferri, lead researcher of the Italian study, warns that people should be careful about chocolate consumption.
© LACRÈM
“Dark chocolate contains antioxidants, but also a lot of fat and calories,” he warns. “People who want to add some chocolate to their diet need to subtract an equivalent amount of calories by cutting back on other foods to avoid weight gain.”
Just as with anything else, moderation seems to be the magic word when it comes to the magic powder.
