In moderation, chocolate candy provides healthy nutrients to your diet, according to MayoClinic.com. The sweet concoctions made from cocoa beans help to reduce the risk of developing heart disease while satisfying your sweet tooth. At the same time, commercially produced chocolate is high in fat and calories.
Significance
Dark chocolate candy is one of the most effective source of the flavonoids and antioxidants associated with heart health, according to MayoClinic.com. The most effective sources of antioxidants come from chocolate that is at least a 65 percent cocoa. Three ounces of dark chocolate, which translates to about 85 g, may have as many as 450 calories however, depending on the brand, so you may have to cut calories from another source to maintain your daily diet.
Function
The antioxidants in dark chocolate closely resemble the beneficial ingredients found in red wine, green tea and various fruits and vegetables, states MayoClinic.com. A small serving of 6 g of chocolate candy per day can reduce your blood pressure and lower LDL cholesterol levels. The flavonoids in chocolate candy help to build the linings in your blood vessels.
Ingredients
Dark chocolate candy tends to include close to 50 to 80 percent cocoa and even higher, while milk chocolate candy usually has closer to 15 or 25 percent cocoa. Dark chocolate bars also contain protein, carbohydrates and calcium. According to My Fitness Pal, 41 g of dark chocolate conatins about 10 percent of your daily iron requirements. Milk chocolate typically contains saturated fats not always present in dark chocolate candies.
Effects
The flavonoids in chocolate candy serve as antioxidants that fight the damage incurred by environmental free radicals that increase cholesterol and form plaque in the arteries. The chocolate manufacturing process removes many of the flavonoids, reducing the beneficial effects however. According to the Cleveland Clinic, chocolate manufacturers recognize the healthy effects of chocolate and often strive to retain the healthy ingredients. Dark chocolate made with cocoa that has not gone through a Dutch candy-making process usually is the best choice to get the most out of your sweets.
Warning
If you plan on adding chocolate to your daily regimen for its healthy benefits, you must regulate the amount you eat. It can be tempting to over-indulge on the seemingly forbidden food when you think it's for your good health. Instead of merely adding chocolate to your daily diet, you should replace another high-density, high-calorie snack with one or two squares of quality cocoa-rich chocolate candy.
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