Kitchen Tip: Is Chocolate Bad for Your Blood Pressure or Cholesterol?

Do you think that chocolate is so yummy and delicious, that it must be bad for you? Well, as a diabetic, I thought so. But not so. Chocolate is made from plants, which from what I've learned, means that chocolate has many of the health benefits of vegetables.

These benefits range from flavonoids which act as antioxidants. [Antioxidants as we know, protect the body from aging caused by free radicals… which causes damage leading to heart disease.]

Dark chocolate seems to be best. It contains a large amount of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries for example). That's huge. Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body.

Dark Chocolate has Heart Health Benefits
Yes, you bet! According to most studies, dark chocolate is actually good for your heart. A small bar of chocolate everyday helps your heart and cardiovascular system keep on pumping to the happy tune.

Here are two heart health benefits of dark chocolate which surprise most people. I know it did me:

1. Lower Blood Pressure: Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure. Since I have high blood pressure, I am WOW'D. What a delicious way to stay healthy. There must be a catch???

2. Lower Cholesterol: Dark chocolate has also shown to reduce LDL (the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent. Another WOW, I am aghast.

Chocolate tastes good. It stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure and it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant. In other words, chocolate makes people feel happy. Smile.

Here is more good news. Most all foods have some risk. But for chocolate lovers, only 1/3 of the fat in dark chocolate is bad for you. Eat small portions in limited doses and enjoy without worry. Yea! Chocolate is actually good for you… in moderation.

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