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This is for all those chocolate lovers!
There are lots of people who feel some form of guilt after eating chocolate. But what if I told you that it was healthy and that you could eat it guilt free! Let me tell you why chocolate have actual benefits for your body.
According to recent studies the cocoa compound is good for you because it contains flavonoids. These polyphenolic compounds are a group of chemical substances found in plants. These compounds contain a type of antioxidant that helps to prevent cancer, heart disease, beneficial effects on human health, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, etc.
With the increase of antioxidant levels helps us to protect us from damage to the blood vessels and the heart. And also prevents out DNA from damage and leading to cancer. Here are some foods and drinks that contain flavonoids:
cocoa, parsley, onion, beans, almonds, coffee, green tea, black tea and red wine.
The food that had the strongest amount of antioxidant was cocoa, even beating tea. The more flavonoid content of cocoa, the higher the antioxidant. Dark chocolate is more concentrated in cocoa content than milk chocolate. White chocolate on the other hand has no cocoa content. Although we know antioxidants are important for good health, researchers still have been studying the exact daily amount required per person.
As a friendly reminder don’t overdo it on eating chocolates because too much of anything isn’t good for you. You should also take into consideration the amount of calories that chocolate contains. A small piece of cocoa contains about 50 calories and the majority of candy bars contain about 200. Vegetables and fruit on the other hand contain just 25 to 80 calories and green tea contains no calories at all.
Vegetables and fruits also contain flavonoids, vitamin, minerals, phytochemicals that protect our health . Remember this should not discourage us from eating a mostly plant-based diet that includes lean protein, fruits, and vegetables. So, enjoy and eat your cocoa with moderation so that you can balance a fulfillment of all the good foods out there!
