Chocolate: The Sweet Superhealer

You know you should eat more fruits and vegetables because they're brimming with antioxidants, right? Well, here's a surprise: Your favorite sweet is a super-antioxidants! Yes, dark chocolate is actually good for you. The richer the cocoa of the dark chocolate you eat is, the better. And just 1 ounce of a very special chocolate packs more than twice the healthy antioxidant punch of red wine or other dark chocolate.

Unfortunately, you can't simply eat dark chocolate in place of fruits and veggies. But keep reading to find out how to healthfully take advantage of the antioxidants powers of this tempting treat.

THE PROOF IN THE COCOA
Several studies in animals and humans have shown the heart-healthy effects of chocolate's antioxidants. One of these studies, led by Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD, distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State University, found that people who ate a diet rich in cocoa powder and dark chocolate had lower oxidation levels of bad LDL cholesterol, higher blood antioxidant levels, and 4& higher levels of good HDL cholesterol.

Dove Dark, made by Mars, Inc., contains Cocoapro cocoa, a proprietary, specially processed cocoa that contains superhigh levels of flavonols—so high that Dove Dark is used in medical research. Cocoa is rich in antioxidant flavonoids called falvonols which include procyanidins, epicatechins, and catechins. Studies have shown that people with high blood levels of flavonoids have lower risk of heart disease, lung cancer, prostate cancer, asthma and type II diabetes. Here are the good things research shows that Cocoapro cocoa can do:

Act as antioxidant. Researchers at the University of California, Davis compared the effects of 1 and one-third ounces of high-flavonol Dove Dark chocolate on 10 healthy people. They found that only the Dove Dark had heart-healthy benefits: It reduced LDL oxidation and boosted antioxidant HDL concentration in the blood. Other studies have shown that the higher the Cocoapro "dose," the higher the levels of antioxidants in the blood and the less LDL oxidation.

Keep blood platelets from clumping together. In the test tube, Cocoapro reduces blood clotting: it may also stabilize arterial plaque, making it less likely to travel and cause a stroke or heart attack. This effect is similar to that of aspirin.

Increase blood vessel flexibility. Unlike aspirin, some of the procyanidins in Cocoapro trigger the production of nitric oxide, which helps keep arteries flexible and increase bloodflow.

Which Chocolate's the Healthiest?
Flavonol values aren't listed on labels, so there's no way a consumer can tell which chocolates have the most. Bottom line: The chocolate with the highest cocoa content have the highest flavonol content. The following chocolates get high marks for their superior flavonol levels: el Ray Gran Saman, Scharffen Berger, Lake Champlain Dar.

Does this mean you should run to the supermarket and load your cart with Kit Kats and Milky Was for "medicinal purposes"? You know now better than that. It's okay to eat dark chocolate in small amounts, as long as you eat an otherwise healthy diet and can afford the calories. Try eating it with nuts or fruit for more good fats and even more antioxidants.

For delicious recipes for chocolate muffins check these chocolate muffin recipes

But don't use chocolate as a stand-in for fat-free fruits and veggies. it just doesn't work that way. An ounce of dark chocolate can contain a whopping 11 g of fat, so you have to compromise elsewhere in your diet to make room for the calories. But if you eat your 1-ounce piece of chocolate slowly and mindfully, it should satisfy your most serious chocolate cravings, which can help you stick to a healthy eating plan.

Another tip: Think real cocoa. Pure cocoa powder (not in instant hot chocolate type) has the most antioxidants, followed by dark chocolate, then milk chocolate.