Being a dietitian (consider this bonus knowledge, dietitian is spelled with a T not a C), many people tend to think I eat 10 grapes for breakfast, a handful of carrots for lunch, go crazy on a salad for dinner, & that looking at a potato chip will put me in my grave. Well, I'm here to tell you I actually eat like a "normal" person, give or take a tofu dish or a meatless burger here & there. As much as I would love to live up to the standards that you think I do, I don't! That's right folks, I have to actually make an effort to eat my fruits & vegetables. So please don't think any less of me when I tell you my favorite food is chocolate. That being said, I do feel the need to justify the healthy side of my addiction & had to jump at the chance to enlighten you on the awesome benefits of dark chocolate.
First things first, not all chocolate is equal. Chocolate is made from the cacao bean which is the healthiest form of chocolate there is. However, cacao beans are extremely bitter so we need to add some stuff in there to make it more palatable. This is why dark chocolate tends to have more nutritional value because it is closest to the cacao bean with the least amount of additions. The higher the percentage of cacao the more nutritional benefit you will obtain. This is why I'm going to spend my time talking about the Mercedes of sweets, dark chocolate or DC for short. Let's face it, we're BFF's, he's been there through the good & bad times so a nickname is well deserved.
DC has been linked with cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol, slowing harmful blood clot formation, & regulating blood pressure. I can now fully appreciate why my mom had to have her heart medicine everyday, & you will too in a matter of minutes....
1. Lowering cholesterol: LDL cholesterol (you know, the bad kind) & coronary disease are friends meaning they are typically linked together. They would be the kind of friends categorized in the "wrong crowd" that your parents would probably not want you to hang out with. You see, when LDL cholesterol is oxidized - WAIT, hold up...in English please. Oxidized LDL means that the LDL cholesterol reacts with free radicals (remember, the guys that travel alone, but can cause damage) & start causing ruckus. So basically LDL & the free radical gang are nothing but hoodlums. Lucky for you, DC & his antioxidant posse swoops in to save the day by stopping the free radical chain before any damage can occur. I won't judge if as you bite off a square of chocolate you mutter, "LDL & gang your party in my body ends here, bwahaha."
2. Slowing harmful blood clot formation: when cells build up along the walls of your arteries it can contribute to plaque & blood clots which in turn can cause arterial blockage. Meet atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty material collects along the walls of your arteries which then thickens, hardens, & could eventually block your arteries. Now that's a sticky situation. Thanks to the flavonols in DC, a type of flavonoid - which to refresh your memory has antioxidant qualities, blood platelets are less sticky and not able to clot as well.
3. Got high blood pressure? (also a risk factor for heart disease) Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate daily can reduce blood pressure in those with hypertension. It helps your arteries to relax & widen which promotes good blood flow. Hmm, too bad I'm gonna guess that their definition of a small bar is not the same as the serving I was hoping. Bummer.
Oh DC, you seem too good to be true & we know not everyone is perfect, so what is your flaw? DC happens to be high in fat. Here's a light at the end of that tunnel though. The natural fat found in chocolate (called cocoa butter) is high in saturated fat, so many people wrongly assume that it’s not good for you. HOWEVER, most of the saturated fat content in cocoa butter is stearic acid, which multiple studies have shown does not raise blood cholesterol levels. As far as fats go, it’s the added fats that are causing all the problems. So if you are a milk chocolate lover more added butterfat is found, which sadly to say can raise your blood cholesterol levels. Milk chocolate has less antioxidants & is lower in other valuable phytochemicals.
The pressure of choosing the right kind of chocolate is in your hands! Watch it you power hungry people, remember to choose wisely & eat in moderation. Try to restrain from pickin' that chewy-caramel-marshmallow-nut covered dark chocolate mega-sized candy bar & trick yourself into thinking you're making the right decision. All that extra crap is going to add fat & calories. As much as I would love to tell you how much to consume everyday to reap the benefits of what I talked about above, there is actually no established serving size at the moment as more research is needed. I don't know about you, but I feel empowered! I can now indulge in my chocolately goodness love affair guilt free, unless of course I down the entire package in one sitting. Have you had your heart medicine today?
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