Chocolate, the Energy Food

Chocolate lovers every where have


been viewing the studies showing


dark chocolate as having certain


health benefits with excitement.


These studies have also pushed


some dietitians to believe that


chocolate contributes to a healthy


diet. It is unfortunate that the


evidence in both preliminary and


contradictory. Chocolate is an


energy dense food, and responsible


health care providers should use


caution when making


recommendations about including it


in a healthy diet.


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Chocolate has been linked to


cardiovascular disease because of


the high concentration of fat,


most of which is saturated.


However, the saturated fat in


chocolate is stearic acid, which


does not seem to cause cholesterol


levels to rise after it is eaten.


Increased risk of heart disease


has been associated with higher


levels of stearic acid in some


population studies. Mainly


because foods that are high in


stearic acid also have high levels


of other saturated fats, these do


cause elevation of cholesterol


levels.


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While some studies have found that


eating dark chocolate is not


harmful to serum cholesterol


levels, reports that dark


chocolate is able to improve


cholesterol concentrations are


mixed. No matter what the effect


of cocoa products on cholesterol


concentrations, they have been


shown to decrease the likelihood


of LDL cholesterol oxidizing in


tests. Another cardio-protective


action of cocoa products is the


ability to thin the blood by


decreasing platelet activation.


These studies have shown a


decrease in platelet activity


after being given cocoa beverages,


cocoa flavonol supplements or dark


chocolate.


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During studies of the Khuna


Indians in Panama it has been


observed that low blood pressure


is lower among this tribe who are


heavy cocoa users. Several


clinical studies have supported


this theory that cocoa may have


favorable effects on blood


pressure and flow. Other studies


have shown that it would take at a


minimum of 100 grams of flavonol


rich dark chocolate to decrease


blood pressure by an observable


amount.


Thank you,


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About The Author, Carmen Sandago
C. SanDago used to be an office and motel cleaner earning minimum wage on a contract by contract basis, working very hard to make ends meet. Being forced to stay at home after her baby, she says it was like a "visit from an angel"... She had to find a way to earn a living from home... with no pedigree, a high school dropout it was like a live changing event! Today she makes in excess of $80,000 a month and enjoys an extraordinary life! She considers herself extremely fortunate