Choosing Chocolate...

Who doesn't love a little chocolate...in many different forms. My favorite is the rich, bitter-flavored chocolate, but I don't mind a Hershey's Milk-Chocolate kiss every now and then....oooh, and M & M's.

Could it be that chocolate is good for us? Oh, a dream come true! Research is now showing that one type of chocolate is rich not only in flavor, but also in antioxidants, which are great for our heart. Read entire article

Chocolate is made from the seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree. These seeds, also known as cocoa beans, are exceptionally rich in flavonoids, which are natural antioxidants thought to help protect against cardiovascular disease.

But not all chocolate is created equal. Processing destroys many of the natural flavonoids present in cocoa beans, and chocolate products that have been alkalized have been almost entirely depleted of their natural goodness. It's really only dark chocolate, high in cocoa content, that seems to be of benefit. Not white chocolate. Not milk chocolate. Only rich, dark chocolate.

Chocolate contains three primary fatty acids, one of which, oleic acid, is also found in olive oil. Research indicates that oleic acid, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, may slightly reduce total cholesterol. The other two fats in chocolate, stearic acid and palmitic acid, are both saturated fats. In general, saturated fats, including palmitic acid, increase total cholesterol, which contributes to heart disease. Research shows, however, that unlike most saturated fats, stearic acid has no effect on cholesterol -- it doesn't reduce it, but it doesn't increase it, either.

Chocolate's Dark Side?

Before you ditch your bowl of fruit for a huge plate of brownies, let's do a quick reality check. A small portion of dark chocolate several times a week can be included as part of a healthy diet. But if you don't already eat chocolate, there's no legitimate health reason to start favoring it now. Not only is chocolate loaded with calories, but it also has far fewer health-boosting vitamins and minerals than fruits and vegetables. It also contains caffeine, something that should be minimized in some people's diets. And for some, chocolate may worsen premenstrual symptoms or trigger migraine headaches. Although research on the potential health benefits of chocolate reveals promising -- if surprising -- short-term results, the need for larger long-term trials still exists before we can truly determine the impact of chocolate consumption on cardiovascular health.

For a healthy heart, your best bet is to eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and veggies, exercise regularly, and keep stress levels under control.

And every now and then, feel free to treat yourself to a guilt-free piece of rich, dark chocolate.

My sum of this article would be....moderation is key! Enjoy your dark chocolate, but don't go overboard!