Chocolate is relaxing. It's calming. It soothes our nerves andmakes us feel good. And we often think of it as a sinfulindulgence. But it doesn't have to be. If you choose yourchocolate wisely, you can enjoy it without the guilty feelingswe normally associate with it.

What Are the Healthy Aspects of Chocolate?

By eating small amounts of the right chocolate, you will enjoythe many health aspects of chocolate. Chocolate contains highlevels of potassium and magnesium, as well as vitamins B1, B2, Dand E. If that's not reason enough to reach for a daily dose ofchocolate, consider that it can also lower blood pressure andprevent arteries from hardening, therefore protecting the heart.

Has Chocolate Been Wrongly Accused?

For the most part, chocolate has been wrongly accused. Newstudies are finding that common beliefs about the effects ofchocolate are not true after all. While we used to associatechocolate with acne, researchers have now dismissed a possiblelink between the two. While some people avoided chocolatebecause of the caffeine level associated with it, we now knowthat a small serving only contains as much caffeine as a cup ofdecaffeinated coffee. Does chocolate really cause migraines?Well, only if consumed in large amounts. Again, moderation playsa big role here.

So before you reach for a Hershey bar of a Snicker's, considerthat the chocolate you eat should contain 70% cocoa. This can befound specifically in dark chocolates. You should invest in aquality dark chocolate and eat it in small amounts every day tosee the health benefits. Make sure you enjoy each bite and letit melt

in your mouth. It will have the same effect as therecommended single glass of wine per day.

What Kind of Chocolate Offers The Most Health Aspects?

True cocoa is the best chocolate to eat for health reasons. Notonly will it satisfy your sweet tooth, but it will also providehealth aspects beyond what many of us dreamed possible. Therecommendation is to eat two small squares of chocolate per day.We're not talking about a typical candy bar here. Dark chocolatecontains higher levels of cocoa and lower level of milk andsugar.

Choosing Wisely

The best varieties of chocolate are more expensive and are darkor bittersweet. Good chocolate should only have a fewingredients on the contents label. In addition, you can buyorganic chocolate or make your own homemade chocolate with acocoa base.

Healthy Chocolate Snacks

There are some easy ways to get in your daily dose ofheart-healthy chocolate. Try a steamy cup of hot cocoa, fruitdipped dark in chocolate, chocolate covered almonds or eat thesquares of chocolate by themselves.

Chocolate in Moderation

Hearing that chocolate has health aspects does not mean we canload up our grocery carts with chocolate bars though. It isimportant to adhere to the daily-recommended dose since it ishigh in calories. Moderation is a key factor here. Balance yourcaloric intake with a variety of other heart-healthy foods andreach for the dark chocolate as a cure for your sweet toothsparingly.

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