November 16, 2008

Health Benefits from Chocolate

Eating chocolate is an experience all itself and you're familiar with how pleasing it can be. From the moment you put a piece of chocolate in your mouth to the moment you swallow it, so many sensory experiences transpire. The smelling of beforehand, taking a good chunk in your mouth and enjoying the intricate textures and varying tastes, the rich, yet smooth melted goodness and how it takes over your taste buds, forever leaving you wanting more.
If you're craving more than just irresistible chocolate flavor -maybe an added and substantial amount of health advantages- then chocolate is something you can certainly consume to reap the benefits. It's actually been proven that the ingestion of chocolate on a regular, yet non-excessive basis, is quite good for you. But, it's not the chocolate itself that's healthful, it's what's inside it.
The magical ingredient in chocolate is cocoa. And within cocoa can be found what are called flavonoids, which are known for their active antioxidant capabilities.
And in former studies, these antioxidants have been proven to help accomplish many health goals for individuals of all ages such as lessen chances of heart disease, decrease blood pressure, improve circulation and also ward off 'free radical' molecules which are known to cause strokes, heart disease, or even worse, cancer.
Not that you can taste the actual flavonoids in chocolate, but they're no doubt there, usually in one of two kinds , catechins and epicatechins. Catechins, especially, are found in an abundance within cocoa, which can very well save your life, or in the least help you to avoid some serious illnesses; a prevention of heart disease and even, possibly, cancer is viable as is the boosting of your overall immune system, so you can stay in tip-top working, guarded condition. Wow.

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