Nutrition Information.... from Heart-Links.com

Is Chocolate A New Health Food?


Could it be possible that our beloved chocolate may actually be good for us? This is the nutrition news we have all been waiting for. So here is the scoop on chocolate and its health benefits. Yes, you read right, health benefits!

Recent studies show that cocoa and dark chocolate with a high cocoa content contain many heart-healthy antioxidants. They contain a compound called flavonoids which may help prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the blood. There is also some evidence that these flavonoids may prevent certain cancers.

It is important that we are all on the same page here, not all chocolate have these health benefits. The healthy flavonoids found in chocolate are found in the cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Milk chocolate is diluted with milk and sugar and contains little amounts of these substances, therefore providing fewer health benefits. So, for those of you who love dark chocolate this is your lucky day! The darker the chocolate, the higher the cocoa content and the more antioxidants it contains. The quality of the chocolate you consume is also important. The cocoa butter is quite pricey so less expensive brands will replace the cocoa butter with milk fats and hydrogenated oils which are bad for our health. Look for high quality chocolates with their main ingredients being cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Unsweetened cocoa powder is one of the purest forms of chocolate you can eat and is lower in fat and calories than other chocolates.

Although this is great news for all chocolate lovers, don't forget that most chocolate (unless you use unsweetened cocoa powder) does still contain sugar and saturated fat.

And please remember calories. An ounce of chocolate contains around 135 calories. So enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or an ounce of chocolate once in awhile to contribute to your health and not to your waistline!

Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She has received a bachelor's degree in both nutrition and psychology and has extensive experience in nutrition counseling and medical nutrition therapy. She offers individual nutrition counseling and has developed one of the only non-diet online weight management programs available on the internet. Meri specializes in weight management, cardiovascular health, and sports nutrition and consults with professional athletes at Titan Sports Performance Center. Her practice includes teaching people how to eat for endurance, improve vitality, and lose weight healthfully. For more information visit http://www.reallivingnutrition.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Parents Not Best Barometer of Kid's Eating, Exercise Habits
Washington Post, United States - 9 hours ago
Researchers reported in the January/February issue of Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior that mothers of preschool-aged children thought their kids ...
Poor eating habits set in early: study CBC.ca
Eating Habits And Exercise Behaviors In Children Can Deteriorate Early Science Daily (press release)
Bad Health Habits Start Early In Life KIROtv.com
all 65 news articles


Americans Consuming More Sugary Beverages
Washington Post, United States - 5 hours ago
Published in the January issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the research found that people are now drinking almost 50 additional calories ...


Garlic as a Cancer Fighter? Maybe Not
Washington Post, United States - 2 hours ago
... Women's University in Seoul, South Korea, and lead author of the study, published in the January issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. ...


The Beverage Network

Nestle launches nutrition drink for children
SmartBrief, DC - 9 hours ago
Nestle HealthCare Nutrition has introduced Kid Essentials Nutritionally Complete Drink, which contains probiotics, vitamins and minerals, and is intended ...
Nestle Nutrition Launches BOOST(R) Kid Essentials Nutritionally ... PR Newswire (press release)
all 4 news articles


Massachusetts And New York Consider Mandatory Nutrition Labeling ...
AMonline.com, WI - 7 hours ago
New York and Massachusetts are considering following California and enacting statewide nutrition labeling on chain restaurant menus, according to Nation's ...


Schools receive nutrition award
Times Community Newspapers of Greater Dayton, OH - 21 minutes ago
By Doug Skinner The Beavercreek School District is one of 16 districts throughout the state to win the 2008 Stellar Award for Best Nutrition Practices from ...


Rudy Nutrition Mutually Agrees to Terminate Merger into Marshall ...
Business Wire (press release), CA - 3 hours ago
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rudy Nutrition reports it and Marshall Holdings International have mutually agreed to terminate the merger agreement between the ...
Rudy Nutrition Mutually Agrees to Terminate Merger into Marshall ... American Digital Networks (press release)
all 6 news articles


Old-fashioned lifeline
Boston Globe, United States - 14 hours ago
But the IV nutrition also damages their livers. Dr. Rusty Jennings, a pediatric surgeon and one of Ellie's doctors, described the double-edged sword ...


10-Q: SCHIFF NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC.
MarketWatch (press release) - 4 hours ago
Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. develops, manufactures, markets and distributes branded and private label vitamins, nutritional supplements and ...
10-Q: AMERICAN MEDIA OPERATIONS INC MarketWatch (press release)
all 60 news articles


7 ways to fight the flu with nutrition
ABC15.com (KNXV-TV), AZ - 11 hours ago
Registered Dietitian, Ashley Koff, says you don’t have to resort to medications to fend off the flu; you can fight it naturally with nutrition. ...

Nutrition - Google News

home | site map | Heart-Links.com Site | Start Your Online Business for Just $8.95
© 2006