Why Chocolate is Proving to Be More Beneficial for Your Health

A recent heart study conducted by the Johns Hopkins University School of medicine proved that a little chocolate a day can actually help reduce the risk of a heart attack.

Apparently chocolate, much like aspirin, reduces the likelihood of platelet clumping in the blood. The study was performed by having volunteers refrain from chocolate, caffeinated drinks, juices, smoking and they also had to be put on a strict regimen of exercise. These foods are known to affect platelets. The chemical in cocoa beans and other foods listed has a similar effect comparable to aspirin. Reducing platelet clumping can be critical because clotting can block blood vessels which may ultimately cause a heart attack. Chocolate may indeed reduce the risk of platelet clotting.

Doctors also say that chocolate is not nearly as good of a clot stopper as the previously and commonly prescribed aspirin a day. However, for chocolate lovers who are looking for an excuse to indulge, they may have found one.

The study included 1200 persons with a family history of heart attacks and heart disease. The study also involved several chocolate offenders which were anticipated by the doctors. Apparently, chocolate is harder to give up for some people than others. The doctors revealed that some people promised to do their best to stay away from chocolate but ended up eating an entire gallon of chocolate ice cream. More likely than not, that is not beneficial for your heart! The testing required 24-48 hours of no chocolate which many people were unable to commit to.

However, after looking at the blood of those who participated accurately, researchers ran platelet samples from those who had consumed chocolate and those who hadn't. The samples were ran through a mechanical blood vessel system which was designed to discover how long it takes for platelets to clump. The blood of the chocolate lovers was indeed slower to clot than of the volunteers who abstained from chocolate.

Also, a urine test revealed that chocolate lovers had lower levels of a platelet waste product called thromboxane.

Apparently chocolate does help a little regarding heart disease, even though it is not as affective as aspirin. Also, the negative effects of the sugar content may counteract the benefits. Dark Chocolate is also often recognized as a beneficial contributor to heart health.

Another way to turn your chocolate addiction into a productive and charitable habit is by purchasing organically certified chocolate.

$70 million in annual sales, organic chocolate is rapidly becoming mainstream. The organic chocolate industry is actually growing by 40 percent a year. Large and small chocolate corporations are jumping on the organic band wagon because of the potential health benefits organic chocolate offers. Hershey's is now producing Kisses and peanut butter cups in the organic market. This was a follow up to the British company of Cadbury Schweppes in 2005.

The environmental benefits of consuming organic benefits are also noteworthy for chocoholics. The cocoa is grown in sustainable rain forests which are free of herbicides and pesticides. The beans are then purchased from farmers who receive guaranteed prices under fair trade agreements. Organic chocolate not only helps protect the environment, it is also good for farmers in under developed nations.

Also, while organic chocolate costs more it is also healthier. A one and a half ounce bar of Shepherd's chocolate is approximately 150% more than the price of inorganic chocolate.

However, the environment benefits and the chocolate is free of chemicals that may otherwise have affected it.

The Amazon Herb Company also promotes organic chocolate infused with rainforest botanicals. This chocolate is said to increase mental and physical energy. This company even makes claims to cleanse, detox, recover, rebuild, energize and promotes health. The company also offers spa & wellness products and emphasizes Rainforest Sustainability. One customer of Chocamaca reported that she was surprised to find that organic chocolate tastes "incredible." These treats contain herbs and antioxidants so it is kind of like drinking healthy tea, only it is in the form of chocolate and it is good for the environment.
Organic chocolate is defined as having been grown within its own indigenous habitat which allows natural pollination and no chemicals or preservatives. Chocolate farmers who demonstrate integrity and preservation of the rainforests are the most likely who are willing to grow cocoa beans organically for the production of organic chocolate.