Valentines day is just around the corner and don't we all secretly hope that our sweetheart surprises us with a really yummy box of chocolates, or maybe just a giant solid heart, well basicially any shape will do so long as it's chocolate.
I could go all crazy here, I've been checking out internet sights about the benifits of this rich brown creamy substance and you know they're telling me that there are lots of great health reasons to eat the stuff. But before we run out to the store to stock up I have to write the caution here. These great reasons to eat chocolate only apply if...YOU DON'T CONSUME MORE THEN 7 OZ A WEEK. 7 oz, that's it. Oh wow I really was hoping for at least a candy bar a day, now I have to take that one bar and either down it all in one sitting or divide it up into 7 one oz (tiny) squares and savor it once a day, You know, this would be mighty good with my afternoon coffee break.
So here are a few reasons to choose chocolate:
* It can lower your blood pressure. Chocolate has flavanols, (flavanols is a substance in cocoa that increases the nitric oxide in your blood). They say eating one small square daily, ( 1 oz) can lower you risk of heart attack by 39%
*It can reduce your risk of stroke. A high dose of cocoa increases the blood flow around the brain.
*It is full of antioxidants which protect against cancer
* It stimulates that feeling of falling in love, it's the phenylethylamine (PEA) in the chocolate.
*It calms you down. Chocolate sends a serotonin boost to your brain, this reduces stress.
* It makes you sexy. The combination of serotonin and PEA sends dopamine into our so-called pleasure centers of the brain, thus making us feel sexy.
* It makes you smarter. It's the increase blood flow that does the trick.
The experts suggest that the best chocolates to choose are the ones with the most cocoa. Cocoa on it's own is actually bitter and chalky, hence the addition of butter and sugar. The more butter and sugar the less healthy. Look for 70% cocoa content. Here's a few to consider.
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Well this Valentines Day I'll be sipping a glass of red wine and savoring a yummy chocolate bar. I hope you will too. ENJOY ! |
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