<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-286" alt="Can Eating Chocolate Help My Health?" src="https://medusamagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Can-Eating-Chocolate-Help-My-Health-300x300.jpg" width="300" height="300" />When it comes to living a healthy life, there are always differing views on what benefits the body or hurts the body most. Using a corporate wellness plan and talking to a physician about the specifics is always a good idea when beginning a lifestyle change.</p>
<p>Another good rule of thumb when starting a new healthy lifestyle is to exercise, cut out trans fats, and cut out sugar. Thankfully for those with a sweet tooth, recent studies have shown that eating chocolate might be good for more than just mending a broken heart.</p>
<p>Of course, chocolate candy bars are still filled with sugars and fats that do the body more harm than good. But chocolate in its purest form or dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa does in fact benefit the body.</p>
<p>And this god news comes just in time for Valentine’s Day—the chocolate lover’s favorite holiday.</p>
<p><b>1. Sweet Weight Loss</b></p>
<p>Surprisingly chocolate has been shown to help your metabolism and aid in weight loss. Of course, adding an excessive amount of dark chocolate into a diet will not aid in weight loss, nor will eating dark chocolate without a healthy diet or regular exercise regimen aid in weight loss. But, dark chocolate is filling and can help curb your apetite. When craving something fatty, salty, or sweet, eating a piece of dark chocolate reduces the craving by filling the body up and satisfying your taste buds.</p>
<p><b>2. Help Prevent Strokes</b></p>
<p>A Swedish study in 2011 discovered that women who ate more than 45 grams of chocolate a week had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke than those who cut out chocolate or most chocolate.</p>
<p><b></b><b>3. Heart Disease, Too</b></p>
<p>In that same Swedish study, more than 31,000 women cut their risk of heart failure by eating one or two servings of dark chocolate weekly. For those who have a bigger sweet tooth, a German study discovered that those who ate a square of dark chocolate a day lowered their risk of heart attack by 39 percent. The flavonoids and antioxidant compounds within dark chocolate increase the flexibility of veins and arteries which lowers blood pressure.</p>
<p><b></b><b>4. Do It For The Kids</b></p>
<p>Studies have shown that those who indulged in chocolate during their pregnancy handled stress better than those who cut it out of their diet. Furthermore, a Finnish study found babies born from chocolate-eating mothers were less fussy and overall happier.</p>
<p><b>5. Deterring Diabetes</b></p>
<p>An Italian study found that the flavonoids in dark chocolate increase nitric oxide production which helps sustain insulin sensitivity to help ward off the development of diabetes.</p>
<p><b>6. Stress Reduction</b></p>
<p>In stressful seasons, chocolate tends to be the first thing people turn to. But, as it turns out, that is not such a bad thing. Indulging in a piece of chocolate when anxious or stressed can reduce stress hormone levels.</p>
<p><b>7. Makes Your Brain Smarter</b></p>
<p>Dark chocolate really is a super food because the flavanols boost blood flow to key areas of the brain which improves focus and overall performance. When cramming for a big exam or preparing for an office presentation, snacking on dark chocolate relaxes the body and keeps the brain alert.</p>
<p>For the next sweet tooth craving, dig into a bag or bar of dark chocolate and reap the health benefits. Treat yourself with the gift of chocolate and savor the health benefits this sweet treat offers.</p>
<p><i>Image Source: www.upearlywithamy.com</i></p>
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Can Eating Chocolate Help My Health?
