Contrary to popular belief, there are many benefits to eating chocolate, especially dark chocolate. Chocolate started out as a drink made from cacao beans in pre-Columbian Mexico hundreds of years ago. The drink was said to have revitalizing and restorative properties. Today, we enjoy chocolate mainly because of its sweet and rich taste. This is because of the added sugar and milk in the production of modern chocolate. However, chocolate started off as dark and bitter like the original cacao beans it came from.
Since the cacao bean originates from a plant, it contains a lot of the health benefits which are associated with dark vegetables. The benefits come from flavonoids. They act as antioxidants inside the body, protecting the body from aging that is caused by free radicals and damage that can lead to heart disease. A large amount of antioxidants can be found in dark chocolate. The flavonoids contained within it produce nitric oxide which helps to relax blood pressure and balance a number of hormones throughout the body.
What it comes down to it, dark chocolate can be very good for your heart. Eating a small bar of it every day can help keep your heart healthy and improve your cardiovascular system by reducing blood pressure and lowering cholesterol. Studies have shown that a daily intake of a small amount of dark chocolate reduces blood pressure. It has also been known to reduce LDL cholesterol by as much as ten percent.
The health benefits associated with dark chocolate are not limited to improving your heart. Many people prefer the slightly bitter taste of dark chocolate to the sweetened taste of normal milk chocolate. It contains much less sugar and fat than normal chocolate. It also stimulates the production of endorphins in the body which give a sensation of pleasure when eating it. It also contains serotonin which is an anti-depressant hormone. There is also caffeine and a number of other natural substances that act as stimulants. This is why so many people love eating chocolate. It tastes so good and leaves you feeling on a high afterwards.
While the taste of dark chocolate may require some getting used to, it is an excellent place to start if you want to lose weight by eating healthy. Instead of eating normal chocolate or candy bars try replacing it with a dark chocolate bar. It contains much less fat and sugar yet is still tasty and has more health benefits.
Like wine tasting, chocolate tasting is also something that can be greatly enjoyed. Because making chocolate has become such an involved process, with each bar containing over 300 different flavor compounds, it is worthwhile spending time to really taste and enjoy the chocolate. Dark chocolate is the original taste and is not smothered in sugar or added milk flavors. Dark is also the favored chocolate when it comes to cooking and baking. Chocolate that is both bitter and dark can be used in the preparation of savory dishes.
So hurry up and Buy Dark Chocolate with Caramel in Hawaii.
