Who doesn’t like to hear news like chocolate may be good for you? Not that everyone in the world likes chocolate mind you, but if you think about it, adding a little bit of chocolate per day in your diet can’t taste as bad as taking a spoonful of something like cod liver oil!
My.cleveland.clinic.org presents this case as to why chocolate may be beneficial:
Chocolate has gotten a lot of media coverage in recent years because it’s believed that it may help protect your cardiovascular system. The reasoning being that the cocoa bean is rich in a class of plant nutrients called flavonoids.
Flavonoids help protect plants from environmental toxins and help repair damage. They can be found in a variety of foods, such as fruits and vegetables. When we eat foods rich in flavonoids, it appears that we also benefit from this “antioxidant” power.
Before you grab a chocolate candy bar or slice of chocolate cake, it’s important to understand that not all forms of chocolate contain high levels of flavonoids.
When cocoa is processed into your favorite chocolate products, it goes through several steps to reduce this taste. The more chocolate is processed the more flavonoids are lost. The good news is that most major chocolate manufacturers are looking for ways to keep the flavonoids in their processed chocolates. But for now, your best choices are likely dark chocolate over milk chocolate
Talk to your health care professional for more information.
