Dark Chocolate… a Delightful Super Food
Chocolate lovers rejoice! (I hope it’s safe to assume that most of you enjoy the rich, delectable, creamy, sensual savor of chocolate.) Whether given as a gift, a reward for the kids, or just self indulgence, the new finding with this bitter cocoa pod will delight chocoholics the world over. Now we’re not talking about, M&M’s Hershey bar or Snickers. Although I’ll confess, I do just love Snickers, sugars are up to 90+% in these candies and calories abound.
Opting for just 2 ounces of dark bittersweet chocolate daily, that contains 70% cocoa solids, is a beneficial protection against heart disease, hypertension and high blood pressure. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, (the more bitter the chocolate, the higher the flavonoid content). Flavonoids are compounds in the plant world that protect plants from environmental toxins and exude health benefits we too can be aided by. Other foods high in flavonoids are; apples, cranberries, onions, pomegranates, red wine and tea.
Dark chocolate is also high in essential trace elements and minerals such as iron calcium, potassium, vitamins A, B, C, D & E. (Cocoa happens to be the highest natural source of magnesium!) A deficiency of magnesium can lead to hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, problems with joints and PMS. Although high in fat, chocolate dose not contain cholesterol.
Some of my favorite ways to enjoy chocolate is to dip with long stem strawberries and other fruit in season.
Dark bitter sweet and non-sweet dark chocolates are the most valuable to your health. So treat your sweet heart to a box of dark chocolate this Valentine’s day, or come down to the Hot Springs and try some of my long stem strawberries dipped in dark chocolate. For more information, you might wish to read the recent study that was published in the Journal of Medicine.
