Is Chocolate A New Health Food

Is Chocolate A New Health Food?
by Meri Raffetto

(bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the blood. There is also
some evidence that these flavonoids may prevent certain cancers.

It is important that we are all on the same page here, not all chocolate have these
health benefits. The healthy flavonoids found in chocolate are found in the cocoa
butter and cocoa solids. Milk chocolate is diluted with milk and sugar and contains little
amounts of these substances, therefore providing fewer health benefits. So, for those
of you who love dark chocolate this is your lucky day! The darker the chocolate, the
higher the cocoa content and the more antioxidants it contains. The quality of the
chocolate you consume is also important. The cocoa butter is quite pricey so less
expensive brands will replace the cocoa butter with milk fats and hydrogenated oils
which are bad for our health. Look for high quality chocolates with their main
ingredients being cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Unsweetened cocoa powder is one
of the purest forms of chocolate you can eat and is lower in fat and calories than
other chocolates.

Although this is great news for all chocolate lovers, don't forget that most chocolate
(unless you use unsweetened cocoa powder) does still contain sugar and saturated
fat.

And please remember calories. An ounce of chocolate contains around 135 calories.
So enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or an ounce of chocolate once in awhile to contribute to
your health and not to your waistline!

About The Author

Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a recognized professional in
the area of nutrition and wellness. She has received a bachelor's degree in both
nutrition and psychology and has extensive experience in nutrition counseling and
medical nutrition therapy. She offers individual nutrition counseling and has developed
one of the only non-diet online weight management programs available on the
internet. Meri specializes in weight management, cardiovascular health, and sports
nutrition and consults with professional athletes at Titan Sports Performance Center.
Her practice includes teaching people how to eat for endurance, improve vitality, and
lose weight healthfully. For more information visit .

Could it be possible that our
beloved chocolate may actually
be good for us? This is the
nutrition news we have all been
waiting for. So here is the scoop
on chocolate and its health
benefits. Yes, you read right,
health benefits!

Recent studies show that cocoa
and dark chocolate with a high
cocoa content contain many
heart-healthy antioxidants. They
contain a compound called
flavonoids which may help
prevent the oxidation of LDL

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The content on
this website is for educational purposes only. Please consult with your physician before using natural
remedies and before making any drastic changes to your diet or exercise program.