This valentine's day, choose dark chocolate to indulge in that protects your heart instead of milk chocolate, advises registered dietitian at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
"In terms of protecting the heart, research suggests that drinking a cup of dark hot chocolate can be equated with drinking a glass of wine," says Dr. Lona Sandon, who urges people to eat and drink in moderation.
Dark Chocolate vs. Milk Chocolate vs. White Chocolate
With the varieties of chocolate available like milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white chocolate, how do you choose the one best for your health and to satisfy your sweet tooth?
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‘For Valentine’s Day consideration, skip the milk chocolate candy and replace it with a cup of dark hot cocoa as pure chocolate, made from cocoa beans, is rich in flavanol, an antioxidant that may help fend off heart disease.’
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Typical candy bars and boxed chocolates may be tasty, but their added fat, sugar, and calories make them less healthy treats, she says. But pure chocolate, made from cocoa beans, is rich in flavanol, an antioxidant that may help protect arteries from damage, maintain healthy blood flow, and fend off heart disease.
Dark cocoa and baking cocoa contain a higher percentage of cocoa solids and less or no added sugar, respectively. They are excellent sources of polyphenols, a class of compounds that includes flavanols. Chocolate in its more processed form, meanwhile, is loaded with extra oils, milk, and sugars that combine to lower its level of polyphenols.
![Dark Chocolate With Olive Oil Increases Good Cholesterol]( "Dark Chocolate With Olive Oil Increases Good Cholesterol")
Dark chocolate enriched with extra virgin olive oil is associated with an improved cardiovascular risk profile in adults at risk of heart disease.
A bar of dark chocolate weighing about 1½ ounces contains approximately 950 milligrams of antioxidants, while a similar bar of milk chocolate contains only about 400 milligrams. White chocolate is a confection of fat and sugar and contains no antioxidants.
"Cocoa by itself may provide some health benefits. It's what is added to it that's not so good for us," she says.
A day of indulgence should be tempered, she advises. It's still important to pay attention to the overall calorie counts.
Source: Newswise
Dark Chocolate With Olive Oil Increases Good Cholesterol
Dark chocolate enriched with extra virgin olive oil is associated with an improved cardiovascular risk profile in adults at risk of heart disease.
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A bar of dark chocolate weighing about 1½ ounces contains approximately 950 milligrams of antioxidants, while a similar bar of milk chocolate contains only about 400 milligrams. White chocolate is a confection of fat and sugar and contains no antioxidants.
"Cocoa by itself may provide some health benefits. It's what is added to it that's not so good for us," she says.
A day of indulgence should be tempered, she advises. It's still important to pay attention to the overall calorie counts.
Source: Newswise
Dark Chocolate can Lower the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation
Regular consumption of chocolate, particularly dark chocolate can lower the risk of atrial fibrillation in women by 21 percent and in men by 23 percent.
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 Consuming Dark Chocolates In The Early Hours Offers Positive Health BenefitsEating chocolates for breakfast can help in weight loss and general health improvement. | Advertisement
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