Monday, January 05, 2009

5 Reasons to Eat More Chocolate

1. Healthier Cholesterol Levels. A recent study conducted at Penn State University found that people who ate a diet rich in cocoa powder and dark chocolate had lower oxidation levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol and higher levels of HDL “good” cholesterol. For more ways to improve your levels, visit our Cholesterol Health Center. 2. Better Blood Pressure. According to a German study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a bite of dark chocolate a day may help regulate high blood pressure. The study's authors suspect that the cocoa increases levels of nitric oxide, a compound that helps to relax and open the blood vessels. 3. Muscle Magic. It may seem like a strange choice for a sports drink, but chocolate milk may help boost athletic performance. In a recent Indiana University study, cyclists who drank chocolate milk between workouts scored better on fatigue and endurance tests than those who consumed standard sports beverages. For more peak-performance tips, visit our Fitness & Exercise Health Center. 4. Brain Gains. According to the National Alzheimer’s Association, consuming dark chocolate can help reduce your chances of developing dementia later in life. In fact, a local chapter of the organization recently included dark chocolate in all the gift baskets it gave to attendees at the Maintain Your Brain program. Visit our Alzheimer's center for more information on the disease. 5. Disease-Fighting Power. Cornell University researchers recently found that cocoa contains nearly twice the disease-fighting antioxidants of red wine and up to three times more than green tea. For more information on the health benefits of antioxidants, check out our guide. Courtesy of Quality Health

No comments:

Post a Comment