Chocolate can be good for you

It has many health benefits, when eaten in moderation

Thu 21 Apr, 2011

Don't let your sweet tooth worry you this Easter: eating both ears off that chocolate bunny is not only fine, it may even be good for you.
Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, is known to have a range of positive effects on your body. It is rich in antioxidants, creates endorphins that cheer you up, and reduces the level of stress hormones.
We've compiled a list of its key benefits, to sooth your conscience.

Hearth health

Research has found that dark chocolate can significantly reduce high blood pressure, though its effect was less in people whose blood pressure was already normal.
Part of the effect appears to be related to the ability of dark chocolate to inhibit an enzyme in the body that is partly responsible for high blood pressure.
But there is no need to consume large amounts of chocolate to reap its benefit - a small daily amount can lower your blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.
One reason chocolate has a positive effect is that it boosts the good kind of cholesterol, also known as HDL, and lowers levels of bad cholesterol, or LDL.
While chocolate may reduce your risk of stroke, it can also increase your ability to survive one. One recent study found that people who ate 50 grams of chocolate weekly were 46 per cent less likely to die after suffering a stroke than those who ate none.

Choose the right chocolate

Alas, not all chocolate is created equal. Go with dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa - at least 30 per cent - if you want to reap the benefit.
A large study published last year involving more than 30,000 middle-aged and elderly women in Sweden, found that those who ate two servings of chocolate per week reduced their risk of heart failure by 32 per cent.
But the chocolate they consumed was 30 percent cocoa, or twice what you may find in some milk chocolates.
This study also highlighted the need for moderation. Women who ate one to three servings per month reduced their risk by 26 per cent – but those who ate at least one serving per day saw no benefit.

Beware: it's high in calories

While chocolate can have a positive impact on your health, remember that it's generally heavy on sugar and calories.
If you do add chocolate to your daily diet, or you eat plenty already, try to limit other energy-dense foods, such as snacks.
Whether you're a self-proclaimed chocoholic or you limit yourself to special occasions, you have one more reason to indulge this Easter.