| Contrary to popular belief, there are many benefits to | | | | The health benefits associated with dark chocolate |
| eating chocolate, especially dark chocolate. Chocolate | | | | are not limited to improving your heart. Many people |
| started out as a drink made from cacao beans in | | | | prefer the slightly bitter taste of dark chocolate to the |
| pre-Columbian Mexico hundreds of years ago. The | | | | sweetened taste of normal milk chocolate. It contains |
| drink was said to have revitalizing and restorative | | | | much less sugar and fat than normal chocolate. It also |
| properties. Today, we enjoy chocolate mainly because | | | | stimulates the production of endorphins in the body |
| of its sweet and rich taste. This is because of the | | | | which give a sensation of pleasure when eating it. It |
| added sugar and milk in the production of modern | | | | also contains serotonin which is an anti-depressant |
| chocolate. However, chocolate started off as dark and | | | | hormone. There is also caffeine and a number of other |
| bitter like the original cacao beans it came from. | | | | natural substances that act as stimulants. This is why |
| Since the cacao bean originates from a plant, it | | | | so many people love eating chocolate. It tastes so |
| contains a lot of the health benefits which are | | | | good and leaves you feeling on a high afterwards. |
| associated with dark vegetables. The benefits come | | | | While the taste of dark chocolate may require some |
| from flavonoids. They act as antioxidants inside the | | | | getting used to, it is an excellent place to start if you |
| body, protecting the body from aging that is caused by | | | | want to lose weight by eating healthy. Instead of eating |
| free radicals and damage that can lead to heart | | | | normal chocolate or candy bars try replacing it with a |
| disease. A large amount of antioxidants can be found | | | | dark chocolate bar. It contains much less fat and sugar |
| in dark chocolate. The flavonoids contained within it | | | | yet is still tasty and has more health benefits. |
| produce nitric oxide which helps to relax blood | | | | Like wine tasting, chocolate tasting is also something |
| pressure and balance a number of hormones | | | | that can be greatly enjoyed. Because making |
| throughout the body. | | | | chocolate has become such an involved process, with |
| What it comes down to it, dark chocolate can be very | | | | each bar containing over 300 different flavor |
| good for your heart. Eating a small bar of it every day | | | | compounds, it is worthwhile spending time to really |
| can help keep your heart healthy and improve your | | | | taste and enjoy the chocolate. Dark chocolate is the |
| cardiovascular system by reducing blood pressure and | | | | original taste and is not smothered in sugar or added |
| lowering cholesterol. Studies have shown that a daily | | | | milk flavors. Dark is also the favored chocolate when it |
| intake of a small amount of dark chocolate reduces | | | | comes to cooking and baking. Chocolate that is both |
| blood pressure. It has also been known to reduce LDL | | | | bitter and dark can be used in the preparation of |
| cholesterol by as much as ten percent. | | | | savory dishes. |