22
Health & Wellbeing
Benefits of dark chocolate Enjoy a little this Easter - guilt-free! By Heather Smith
Easter is upon us, and that means another time of year where we are surrounded by delicious sweet treats. Enjoying chocolate usually seems to come with a side serving of guilt, so I thought it would be a good time to explain some of the health benefits of chocolate. We’re talking about good quality, dark chocolate here, which is actually pretty rich in nutrients including magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc and selenium. Chocolate is also full of antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, as well as having a high fibre content which is important for gut health, and flavanols which help protect the skin and brain.
There is research showing chocolates has the ability to improve blood flow, reduce blood pressure and lower heart disease and stroke risk too, as well as it being associated with a reduced risk of depression. This all sounds like a winner to me. Not that I need much excuse to eat chocolate! So, what cocoa content can we call dark chocolate? Well, the darker you can go, the better. 100% cocoa chocolate is pretty hard going, but 70% is pretty enjoyable to most people. For the other side of the coin, remember that chocolate is fairly high in fat, so the calories do quickly add up. A square or two a day is probably enough. If you’re thinking there is no way you could stop after a couple of squares, try going a little darker. The mix of sugar and fat is a huge trigger for overeating and is at least part of the reason that the less-dark chocolate is so hard to put down. The darker the chocolate, the less sugar and – in theory – the easier to put down after a sensible amount. Heather Smith is a fat loss specialist Personal Trainer. Get in touch for a free five-day meal plan www.fitbiztraining.co.uk
