Chocolate Lover’s Diet-Too Good to Be True?
Recent studies prove that chocolate contains antioxidants that are good for you. Millions of chocolate lover’s world wide can rejoice at the news that giving in to their chocolate cravings can now be beneficial to their health.
The antioxidants that have recently been discovered in chocolate are similar to those in wine or tea. They can help prevent or reduce heart disease, fight high blood pressure, and prevent clogged arteries in many individuals.
Unfortunately the amount of these healthy antioxidants that is found in chocolate is relatively small in comparison to other foods. However, even a small dosage of these antioxidants can be good for your body.
The best way to get the most health benefits out of a chocolate snack is to avoid chocolates that have been heavily processed. Processing can deplete the amount of antioxidants found in chocolate and therefore remove any health benefits as well.
Dark chocolate usually requires less processing and has been shown to have the highest levels of antioxidants.
The Food and Drug Administration recommends that we use moderation with our consumption of chocolate despite its proven health benefits. They suggest eating a small amount of chocolate daily and when possible, stick to dark chocolate.
Experts believe half of a normal size candy bar would be the most chocolate that you would want to eat while getting the maximum amount of antioxidants.
Another way to take advantage of the health benefits of chocolate is to add small amounts of it into other foods. For example you may want to add some chocolate flavor to you morning coffee or make yourself a chocolate pudding snack.
In addition, a chocolate extract is a great way to reap the health benefits of chocolate. It provides you with the same “chocolate high” that traditional chocolate would, without the unwanted calories or fat.
The chocolate extract is rich in phenylethylamine (PEA), which is a chemical that is associated with happiness in the human brain.
Besides the antioxidants that can help prevent heart disease, chocolate also contains caffeine, theobromine, phenylethylamine, magnesium and anandamides. These properties contribute to reasons why many people have deep cravings for chocolate.
Chocolate lovers will be happy to know that because of the proven health benefits of chocolate there is a diet geared especially towards them The Chocolate Diet consists of liquids, powders or supplements that can be combined with milk or water to help aid in weight loss.
These shakes provide you with the antioxidants found in chocolate while you enjoy a rich chocolate flavor. They are not meant to replace entire meals; rather they should be used as a healthy snack alternative.
There are also chocolate pills given in capsule form. These pills are thought to provide various nutrients will stimulate your metabolism. These, combined, with a healthy diet are supposed to jumpstart the fat burning process.
Though eating chocolate can seem like a strange way to maintain your well being, the studies are clear that eating chocolate in moderation can clearly be beneficial to your health. Chocolate lovers can give into their cravings for the sweet in small amounts without being weighed down with feelings of guilt.
The good news is we can now rationalize indulging in a piece of chocolate by focusing on the antioxidants it is providing our bodies. However, experts agree that while chocolate does exhibit these health properties, your body does need antioxidants from other food sources as well.
Different foods contain different types and levels of antioxidants.
The best defense against heart disease is to try to expose your body to as many different antioxidants as possible. This means you should continue to enjoy fruits, vegetables, red wine, and tea.