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Dark chocolate is a food with many health benefits. Yes, that's right, a health food. Let me explain the unqiue properties of dark chocolate and how it can really benefit your health! Now when I speak of dark chocolate, I mean just that, and not other chocolates which are filled with fat and calories. This is real, unprocessed, dark chocolate. Did you realize that chocolate originates from a plant? And this is why it serves just as good of a purpose as freshly picked vegetables from the garden.

Antioxidants are part of real dark chocolate.These antioxidants are known as flavonoids. You need antioxidants to a certain extent in your body to keep optimum health. The main antioxidant I am thinking of here is Cacao. Cacao contains a great number of antioxidants. It is very versatile in that it can lower your blood sugars, helps arthritis, since it has an anti-inflammatory effect, and it is also a rich source of magnesium for the body.

The high ORAC score, known as Oxygen Radical Absorbeance Capacity, is what cacao contains.This is what cleans the system of what are known as free radicals. Free radicals are what creates an environment in the body for diseases of many types.

Blood pressure and heart health can also be improved for many people consuming a steady diet of dark chocolate. Your cholesterol health, with a small daily consumption of dark chocolate, is likely to improve as well, all due to rich antioxidants from Cacao.

A compound in dark choclate knwon a theobromine has properties of a natural diuretic. Theobromine has a blood pressure lowering effect, since it works on blood vessels dilating them. It also has the capability of helping your lungs function better, and helps to cure a cough.

Dark chocolate also contains stimulants such as caffeine. This explains why it gives you the energy that you need.

Contrary to what people believe, dark chocolate contains mostly good fats and only small amounts saturated fats, the bad ones. A healthy fat that is monounsaturated known as oleic acid is contained in dark chocolate. This is one of the fats used in olive oils.



Have depression problems? Dark chocolate may also help this problem a great deal. How does it help? Well, serotonin release, and endorphins are a response that is triggered from dark chocolate consumption. Serotonin is a brain chemical, which plays a big role in our emotions, sleep, and memory. Endorphins are another chemical released from the brain, which is our painkiller center. They are also a type of hormonal substance.

And lastly, dark chocolate can help you to lose unwanted pounds. Consumption of a small amount of dark chocolate between meals helps to curb the appetite, and help other food cravings you may have. Thus, overeating is avoided, and likewise your weight is reduced.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Kirkman.
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