The Benefits of Chocolate

There are arguments that may never be settled: Was Muhammad Ali really the Greatest? Was Gale Sayers the best ever in the NFL when it came to running back kick-offs? Is chocolate really good for you? I'm tempted to say "Yes" to all three, but especially to the last question about chocolate.

Chocolate is Good?

A recent study sought to discover a link (or lack of same) between chocolate consumption and a risk of cardio-disorders like hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease and type-2 diabetes.

The study covered seven study different areas and included the participation of more than 114,000 subjects. Five of the seven studies reported a beneficial association between chocolate consumption and reduced risk of developing cardio disorders.

In other words, chocolate is good!

But before you run down to the 7-11 and buy a box of Snickers bars, keep in mind that when chocolate has the spotlight for any health-related study, the focus is usually on minimally processed or unprocessed dark chocolate.

This isn't the first time researchers pinned their hopes on the potential benefits of dark chocolate as a heart-healthy choice. A study conducted in 2008 at the Research Laboratories of the Catholic University in Campobasso and the National Cancer Institute of Milan revealed that eating a small piece of dark chocolate every day can significantly reduce the inflammation that leads to cardiovascular disease. According to article on webmd.com, the ideal amount is 6.7 grams per day (0.23 ounces). A typical Hershey chocolate bar weighs about 43 grams. That means eating one [pure] dark chocolate bar over the course of 6 1/2 days to get 6.7 grams per day.

Milk Chocolate Beware!

Don't get your chocolate mixed up. Pure dark chocolate and also pure cocoa contains high amounts of antioxidants which is where the health benefits come in. As soon as you start processing the chocolate, any redeemable value goes out the window. In fact, if you've ever eaten a piece of raw, unprocessed dark chocolate you know that the taste is far from sweet. But hey, whoever said something needs to taste good in order to be good for you.

That being said, according to article published by the the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, when it comes to antioxidant content, cocoa powder ranks first, followed by:

Unsweetened baking chocolate

Dark chocolate

Semi-sweet chocolate

Sorry folks. No Snickers or Baby Ruth bars anywhere to be found.

A Word or Two About Healthy Living

So a little chocolate each day may keep the doctor away. That's all very fine and good, but if you really want to make an impact in your lifestyle and overall state of health you need to start living healthy. That means for starters eating right and getting the proper amount of rest and exercise.

Maybe it's not that simple but it certainly puts you in the fast lane for feeling better.