Chocoholics can rejoice! Recent studies have indicated that specific varieties of chocolates are good to eat and How A Chocolate A Day Keeps The Doctor Away!

I am sure that you must be super excited to read this and yes its true. As a matter of fact chocolates have been used since decades by the medical professionals to treat diseases such as hemorrhoids, weak digestion system, diarrhea, fatigue, gout, and tuberculosis.

Eating a small serving (2 -3 oz) of dark or the darkest chocolate is beneficial to health. The chocolate must be of high quality and should contain at least 70% chocolate solids. Only, the dark variety, with larger cocoa content seems to be good, in comparison to milk and white chocolates. Dark chocolates have a high concentration of antioxidants called flavonoids and have certain health benefits which are listed below:

• According to a research analysis, people who ate one serving of chocolate a week were approx 28% less likely to have a stroke than the non chocolate eaters. Also, eating chocolates helps in lowering the blood pressure. Since, chocolate appears to have a pronounced effect on blood pressure, therefore chocolate consumption would lower the risk of strokes and heart attacks, with a stronger effect being seen for stroke.
• Chocolate contains essential nutrients such as iron, calcium, potassium, and vitamins A, B1, C, D, and E and magnesium. Infact cocoa is the most natural source of magnesium. Therefore, eating a chocolate a day helps in fulfilling some of the nutrient requirements.
• Women suffering from PMS (premenstrual syndrome) can benefit from eating chocolate. The terrible mood swings that occur during this phase are attributed to drop in progesterone levels. Adding magnesium rich dark chocolate to the daily diet increases the progesterone level and hence makes a woman happy.
• Chocolates help in improving the flow of blood to the key regions of the brain for about two to three hours. Thus help in decreasing tiredness, ageing effects and sleepiness.
• Dark chocolates are good in lowering the LDL (bad) cholesterol and raising the HDL (good) cholesterol.
• A UK study also suggests that theobromine component of cocoa is affective in giving an ease to a persistent cough as it opens the airways of the lungs.
• A latest study has also revealed the fact that the women older than 75 years of age, who ate chocolate at least twice a week, were 35% less likely to die of heart related disease. So women in their golden age should indulge their chocolate cravings on a weekly basis if they want to avoid heart problems.

Go ahead and indulge in choco-therapy and reap the benefits. But make sure that you only eat good quality dark chocolates that are rich in cocoa solids. Have a chocolate a day for a sweeter health.

Image Credit: 4.bp.blogspot.com