The Benefits of Dark Chocolate

If food is the way to a man's heart then chocolate is the way to a woman's soul. The good news is that chocolate doesn't just taste great, it's good for you too. Before you get too excited you should know that we're talking about dark chocolate, not white or milk chocolate. Dark chocolate is the real deal so look for chocolate that has a minimum of 60% cocoa. So what's so great about chocolate (besides the intoxicating taste)? Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants, which are your skin's best friend.

According to WebMD, the antioxidant activity of dark chocolate was equivalent to (or even higher) than other foods loaded with antioxidants like blueberries, pomegranates, and the acai berry.

What is an Antioxidant?
Antioxidants are great for your skin because they consist of a group of compounds that fight the damaging effects stress on your body's cells. Cardiologist Suzanne Steinbaum suggests that antioxidants keep the arteries healthy and protect against cardiovascular disease. Tasty and healthy? It's true; dark chocolate is good for you and is practically a health food. Dr Steinbaum encourages people to eat a square of dark chocolate when looking for a satisfying snack.

What is Chocolate?
According to WebMD, chocolate originates from fruit seeds, which explains why it is so high in antioxidants. A tree by the name of Theobroma cacao produces fruit, and the seeds from that fruit are called cacao beans (they're called beans but they're not really beans). Those seeds are dried and processed to produce what we know as cocoa powder. And that cocoa powder is heavenly.

So the next time you feel guilty about eating chocolate, don't. It's good for your health but like everything else, be sure to eat it in moderation because dark chocolate is high in calories.