Whether you're trying to shed a few pounds or simply interested in having the most nutritious diet possible, healthy chocolate substitutes can help you satisfy your sweet tooth with no guilt. Although they won't enable you to make cookies, cakes,...
Chocolate has been transformed from a "fattening indulgence to a health food," according to the February 2010 issue of "Harvard Women's Health Watch." The publication cites "a steady stream of studies" that show that dark chocolate improves blood...
While large amounts of chocolate can be detrimental to your weight, small amounts of dark chocolate can be helpful. Since it is derived from plants, chocolate in its most natural form is rich in antioxidants. While milk chocolate and white...
Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, which are cultivated in Central and South America. To produce chocolate, cocoa beans are first fermented, roasted and ground. Ground cocoa is then liquefied and mixed with fat and sugar and further processed to...
Chocolate is a common craving, and for good reason: it's delicious, creamy and satisfying. Unfortunately, a serving of chocolate that's more than an ounce or so can deliver an unhealthy amount of calories, saturated fat and sugar, so it's...
Chocolate milk is a nutritious beverage for children and adults and it can be a way for you and your family to increase your consumption of dairy products. Chocolate milk provides essential nutrients, but it is high in sugars and calories, so have...
Chocolate comes in various forms, including white and dark and there has been speculation that consuming chocolate may provide some health benefits. However, since chocolate can also be high in fat and calories, it should be consumed in...
Chocolate is considered to be the "food of the Gods." Cocoa and its derivatives date back to the ancient Aztecs. Today, chocolate, especially dark chocolate, proves to be beneficial to health in small amounts. Just 2 oz. of 65 percent or more of...
Chocolate has always been a popular treat, but now science provides evidence that it can be a healthy part of the diet, too. The health benefits come from the cacao, which contains phenols, a class of phytonutrients. Dark chocolate provides...
So, you've given up on red meat, locked up your liquor cabinet and sworn off potato chips. Sometimes pursuing a healthy lifestyle feels like an exercise in self deprivation. Here's some news that might cheer you up. Dark chocolate, consumed in...
Scientific studies attesting to the health benefits of dark chocolate are welcome news to chocolate lovers and chocolate manufacturers. But in some cultures, chocolate's wholesomeness is already a part of life. For example, the Kuna Indians of...
Chocolate and its natural source, cacao or cocoa, is one of nature's wonders. Plucked as a colorful fruit, David de Rothschild from the TV series Eco Trip exclaimed, "I think that's almost better than chocolate" upon tasting the white fruit around...
Antioxidant flavonoids, present in healthy dark chocolate, have been found by researchers to positively impact cardiovascular health when introduced into the diet. You may have heard that flavonoid-rich chocolate is good for you, but wonder which...
Chocolate can be a tasty addition to a healthy diet and can contribute nutrients and phytochemicals that actually benefit health. While most of the research on the health benefits of chocolate done to date has been short-term or uncontrolled...
Nutritionists, dieticians and health food advocates tout the benefits of dark chocolate as a cancer-fighting, antioxidative alternative to common milk chocolate. Due to dark chocolate's popularity, many companies release their own versions, but...
Chocolate is made from the beans of the cocoa tree, Theobroma cacao. These beans are fermented, dried, roasted and ground to produce a cocoa mass and cocoa liquor. The mass and liquor are then further processed to yield chocolate products such as...
Two to three squares of dark chocolate, with over 70 percent cacao, is a healthy treat, with about 120 to 180 calories and 8 to 13 g of fat, notes the USDA National Nutrient Database. However, if you are unable to stick to this small serving,...
Chocolate is a tasty treat enjoyed by many. According to the World Atlas of Chocolate, chocolate is North America's favorite flavor. We even have theme parks inspired by chocolate. Some people are worried about health risks like obesity and...
Chocolate was first enjoyed as a spicy, frothy beverage 2,000 years ago in the tropical rain forests of the Americas. Since then, it has become more than a beverage and is receiving recognition as a healthy addition to a nutritious diet. Not all...
Overloading on chocolate could result in an expanded waistline, but moderate amounts are actually beneficial to your health. Chocolate does contain sugar and calories, so it is not something you want to indulge in all the time. Cocoa, the main...
Chocolate may seem like a sweet, empty-calorie confection, but research is finding that it actually has healthy benefits when eaten in moderation. Plant-based foods contain antioxidants, and chocolate, which is made from cocoa beans, falls into...
The cocoa bean is composed of more than 400 different phytochemicals, many of which confer health benefits in humans. Not all chocolate is beneficial, however. Most of the beneficial effects of chocolate have been attributed to the dark variety,...
Chocolate may be considered the ultimate sin food, but the cocoa in chocolate offers many health benefits from its high content of anti-oxidants, "good" monounsaturated fat and magnesium. Cocoa's unique nutritional profile boasts three...
Chocolate is formed from the beans of the cocoa tree, called Theobroma cacao. The beans are put through a procedure that includes fermentation, drying, roasting and grinding to yield a cocoa liquor and mass. Both of these are further processed to...
If you're limiting your cholesterol, eating lots of fiber and cutting back on sugary sweets, then you're probably feeling mighty proud of yourself -- and a little deprived. Chocophiles, rejoice. A healthy lifestyle doesn't have to mean complete...
While chocolate is not exactly considered a "health food," and when eaten in excess it can contribute to obesity, high blood sugar levels, heart disease and tooth decay, small amounts of certain kinds of chocolate may actually provide health...
Chocolate, derived from the cacao bean, has many beneficial compounds that can contribute to good health. The addition of ingredients in the manufacturing of milk chocolate candy, however, decreases the nutritional value of chocolate and makes...
High in calories and fat, chocolate can hardly be considered a health food, but research into healthy components within chocolate has uncovered a range of compounds that may boost health and protect against disease. Chocolate is made from cocoa,...
White-chocolate syrup is a popular flavor because of its rich taste. The flavor profile tastes like vanilla and white chocolate. Although prized for its creamy flavor, white-chocolate syrup usually contains a high amount of sugars and...
Chocolate has been a delicacy for hundreds of years. Try out some tips for buying chocolate in this healthy shopping video.
Cocoa is an antioxidant in dark chocolate that can help reduce your risk to cancer. Learn more about candy and satisfying your sweet tooth in this healthy shopping video.
Saving room for dessert is a must for adding any treat to the end of a healthy meal. Learn some tips for buying dessert foods in this healthy shopping video.