By: Nancy Gonzales

Are you a chocolate lover? Well, I am, and I’m very glad. I can eat chocolate every day at anytime no matter how I feel. For those chocolate lovers, I just want them to know that if your favorite chocolate has a higher percentage of cacao (cocoa) than milk chocolate, I can justify to you that you are on the correct path. Researchers investigated that chocolate has an abundance of antioxidants that find their way to enter our bloodstream and protect lipoproteins against oxidative damage. Isn’t that amazing; it makes the chocolate lovers adore chocolate even more. Researchers say that the higher the percentage, the better it is for you. A 100 gram (3.5 ounces) bar of dark chocolate that contains 70 to 80% of cocoa can contains up to 11 grams of fiber; 67% of iron; 58% of magnesium; 89% of copper; and 98% of manganese in addition to potassium, zinc and phosphorus. Unfortunately, it’s a lot to consume everyday. Would you like to know the rest of the health proven benefits chocolate provides?

According to Healthline.com, dark chocolate may lower the risk of a cardiovascular disease. Dark chocolate appears to be highly protective against the LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) in long term, you should notice less cholesterol in the arteries and a low risk of heart disease. Studies show that it reduces the risk of cardiovascular death by 50% over a 15 year long period. Also, eating chocolate 2 times a week can lower the risk of having calcified plaque in the arteries. Moving on to another benefit, did you know that chocolate can protect your skin from the sun? It certainly does. Dark chocolate protects against sun-induced damage, improves blood flow to the skin, and increases skin density and hydration. So consider consuming dark chocolate when going on a trip.

The good news is not over yet. Did you know that dark chocolate can improve your brain function? Harvard University demonstrated how 5 healthy volunteers got a better blood flow to the brain due to dark chocolate consumption. Dark chocolate can also improve verbal fluency and several risk factors for disease and has a high percentage of caffeine and theobromine. As you can see from the benefits of dark chocolate, there is considerable evidence that cocoa can provide powerful healthy benefits especially against cardio disease. So the next time you eat chocolate, ENJOY IT up to the last piece. It’s true when Mrs. Hodges says that “Chocolate speaks to your heart.” Never mind, it defines very well why you should eat chocolate.