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Oh the love of chocolate is one of the pleasures in life. Not that mass produced kind, but good quality chocolate say from Europe. I find their chocolate is not a sweet and it is just better in texture and taste. Although there are good chocolates in the United States, European can't be beat. And now people are finding out that chocolate the dark kind, is actually good for the body. From the Maya and Aztecs to the kings of England chocolate has been a powerful food. Chocolate is like a best friend but without the back talk, it soothes, it comforts and will energize your body and spirit. Chocolate has a language all its own, it will tell you I love you, I am sorry and anything you want it to say. It makes a great gift if you do not know what else to give.

What our ancestors knew many centuries ago we are discovering the benefits of dark chocolate, such as lowering the blood pressure as it contains a chemical known as epicatechin, it creates a healthy blood flow throughout our bodies. It will not raise your cholesterol, and in fact could lower the LDL cholesterol. It is also an extremely powerful antioxidant. It will fight the free radical damage and can prevent disease. The USDA ranks dark chocolate at the top over green tea when it comes to ORCA (a scale that calculates the antioxidant levels in certain foods.)

Another good reason to eat dark chocolate is it has been said it is good for the teeth. It contains phosphate and other minerals that will not harm your teeth. It will fight decay as it has tannins in it, this protects teeth from cavities. Dark chocolate can help in your digestive system as well. It has been used for centuries to cure diarrhea and other intestinal problems. It can also help with that pesky cough as it coats the throat, relieving the urge to cough all the time.

Some say that dark chocolate can be used as an anti depressant, as we all know that it does. No one has to tell me that one. Eating a piece of dark chocolate boosts your energy level and will help get your mood in a better place. Even smelling it gives one a sense of relaxation. Now these findings do not give you the license to eat a box of dark chocolate in one setting. Taken in moderation, as all things, it will help your overall health and make you enjoy the day.

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In spite of knowing about the ill effects of eating chocolates, chocolate lovers find it impossible to resist them. Interestingly, over a long span of time, this sweet indulgence has managed to retain a long list of loyalists. According to most chocolate lovers, they are favored not just because of their distinct flavor and taste. Avid eaters report that chocolates can respond to them emotionally helping them to deal with stress and everyday problems. For the health conscious chocolate eaters, there cannot be a better option than dark chocolates that have become widely popular all over the world.

Dark chocolates that have a higher anti oxidant value are also extremely beneficial for our health. This is chiefly because the dark varieties are prepared from raw cacao. As we all know, cacao beans contain more than 300 chemical compounds that make them rich in anti oxidants. The presence of anti oxidants in the this type of chocolate equates to reduced degeneration of cells in our body. This in turn, helps the eater to work more energetically. Apart from the anti oxidant value that these possess, it is further interesting to note that dark chocolates contain vitamins such as A, B1, C, D and E along with calcium, potassium and iron. These essential elements help you to remain active.

Dark chocolates are also helpful in lowering possibilities of heart related diseases such as cardiac arrests and heart attacks. This is made possible by the flavonoids present in cacao beans. Flavonoids reduce fats thereby preventing blockage of arteries. As a result, chances of heart diseases are minimized to a great extent. Moreover, dark chocolates are known for lifting moods and increasing alertness in stressed out people. These factors make dark chocolates the best choice when it comes to enjoying a tempting treat without compromising on health.

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In the last couple of years dark chocolate has been cropping up in the news and online, health journals and financial reports. But is this just a sudden revelation? You either are a chocoholic or you know one. Haven't these people known for as long as memory serves them that chocolate makes them feel better? For those who try to control their chocolate consumption, it is their greatest guilty pleasure. What if chocolate is not just a new kid on the block? The latest health fad? What if I told you chocolate had been around for over 3500 years. And from the beginning ancient peoples realized its healthy properties. They ground the beans into a paste or powder, mixed it with water and sipped the foam. No heat, no chemicals, no sugar, no milk, no added fat. "YUCK", you say. But king Montezuma marched his troops for days consuming nothing but this pure, raw chocolate. And money literally grew on the cacao tree. The beans were traded for other valuable goods in the market system of civilized cultures all over the Americas.

When Europeans visited the New World, they saw the value in this rare fruit and took it with them back home. But the more delicate crowd in the refined cities of Europe couldn't get past the taste. So over time they learned to roast the beans to alleviate the bitterness. A little later, someone figured out if you treated them with alkali, it took away even more of the bitterness. Did no one ever consider that consuming alkali might not be the healthiest thing? And then the clever chocolate makers found out that by adding sugar and milk they had a highly consumable, and marketable, product. But at this time, they didn't realize that through all that processing they had left behind up to 80% of what made the chocolate an all purpose food and ancient energy drink. But they didn't leave behind it's value in the marketplace. As manufacturers and candy makers discovered more and more ways to present chocolate, they discovered more and more ways to make money with it. Chocolate has remained a marketable commodity during economic downturns and upswings. Statistics show that when times are good, people celebrate with chocolate, and when times are bad, they soothe themselves with it.

So, in keeping with the pattern, when science began to recover the healthy properties of chocolate the makers leaned their ears in that direction. And when consumers began to look for it, they started tweaking their recipes with stronger cocoa content and nuts and berries. But even at their best they still typically roasted and alkalized their beans so they could use cheaper sweeteners to make it edible. At first, you could only find the real stuff in small candy kitchens, where they were willing to hand process the beans in tiny batches. So only the chosen few could buy it. A few of the finer ones got internet sites and sold their wares more widely. But how many customers can one small kitchen serve? Gradually some of the larger companies improved their chocolate, so the average Walmart shopper had a chance to at least choose something a little healthier than a chocolate flavored kiss. And one or two even put all their energy into producing a chocolate that takes it all the way back to it's ancient Mayan roots in purity and nutrition. And once again, historically, a company that has taken the time and resources to make the superior product will reap the most benefits in the market. And in this case, those who get on the bandwagon of either consumption or marketing of these chocolates could find their life situations changed in ways they never imagined.

Terri, along with husband Johnny, operates a healthy chocolate business from their home and on their travels. They live in rural western Kentucky and have one daughter and a brand new granddaughter. They are passionate about sharing what eating healthy chocolate, and being in the healthy chocolate business, has done for them in the three years since they first discovered it. Although their favorite way to share chocolate is face to face, they also have a lucrative online business and look forward to each new friend it brings their way.

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Ever have a craving to dip into a delicious box of chocolates? Ever felt that a little chocolate might be just the thing right now? Well, it isn't surprising at all! Eating chocolates is one way of bringing out feelings of relaxation and a natural sense of well being. Aside from those reasons, chocolates have have also been found to have health benefits such as lowering cholesterol and introducing antioxidants to the body. The best kind of chocolate with the highest amount of rich nutritional value to promote good health is dark chocolate

Why is dark chocolate healthy? Compared to milk chocolate, dark chocolates have more cacao which is the key component in the obtaining the health benefits. It also has less sugar, and no milk ingredient. This is the reason why dark chocolate is also called plain chocolate The health benefits of dark chocolate may well replace the advantage of eating apples everyday. According to a study, eating 1.6-ounce of dark chocolate daily will be good for your health. The top health benefits include:

* Lowering risks of heart diseases. - The flavonoids content of dark chocolates promote blood clotting and this helps increase the blood flow in the heart.

* Lowering blood pressure -

* Lowering cholesterol -

* Feelings of relaxation that act as an anti-depressant -

* Promotion of good digestion and improved appetite

* Potential cancer prevention

* Antioxidants

* Recent studies show that it slows down decline of brain activity due to age

* Indications that it aids in treating anemia and kidney stones

So just why is dark chocolate is healthy ? Dark chocolate is healthy due to the fact that it comes from the plant seeds of cacao. Since its natural components come from nature, it can carry the same kind of nutrients and benefits that one can get from any fruit or vegetable. Dark chocolates are created by mixing fat and sugar to cacao but without milk additives such as those found in regular commercial chocolates. The flavonoids found in dark chocolates is believed to contain more antioxidants than a number of other fruits such as strawberries. So eating dark chocolates will help you lower your blood pressure and assist some of the hormones in your body to be better balanced.

Like most good things, there is a potential downside. Unfortunately, too much of it can still be fattening, but that is true for most things! While dark chocolate has less fat than other chocolates and a lot of other sweets, too much of a good thing tips the balance of the benefits and markedly increases your calorie consumption. So if you plan to include dark chocolate in your daily diet and you are not contented with consuming just 1.6 ounce of it, better cut out or lessen your intake of other high caloric foods. You may eat more chocolate but you definitely want to make sure that you maintain your daily calorie intake to avoid unwanted pounds. Also, eating higher quality chocolates can assist in cutting back the amount. The higher the quality and types of chocolate that you eat the more quickly you are to be satisfied with you delicious taste treat.

For some, eating dark chocolate is as pleasurable an experience as kissing! Aside from the natural high it brings, it also assists you in promoting good health if eaten in a specific amount of daily dark chocolate Daily small doses of dark chocolate included in a balanced diet and regular exercise can make for a healthier you. It is possible that the health benefits of dark chocolate may surpass those of some other fruits and vegetables while also giving the added benefit from giving you warm feeling inside out. So enjoy! Chocolate can be a part of your life and you don't have to go overboard - A little a day just might keep the doctor away!

Colleen Maguire -
Writer, Traveler and Chocolate Lover

For More Delicious Chocolate Ideas and Tastes: Explore Gourmet Dark Chocolates.

With a lot of talk about health and chocolate it is important to realize that there is a big difference between all types of chocolate and the health benefits they provide. One of the main health benefits that has been found in healthy dark chocolate is the flavonoids and they are more highly concentrated in dark chocolate because it has a higher cocoa percentage.

It is the cocoa which comes from a plant, which provides all of the health benefits. It is not only full of flavanoids but also minerals and other elements beneficial to health. Also white chocolate and milk chocolate contain more fat, refined sugar and fillers, which are not healthy.

Products which are coated with chocolate should also be eaten with caution because the amount of chocolate may be small and therefore the health benefits minimal. The product which is coated in the chocolate may be unhealthy and outweigh any health benefits provided by the chocolate. It is a balancing act, like any sort of healthy eating to make sure that you have the chocolate as part of a healthy balanced diet and have the dark chocolate if you want to ensure you are getting the maximum health benefits.

There is also a difference between different types of dark chocolate and this can effect the health benefits. Some have been processed a lot and have a lot of added sugar and so they are not so healthy as the ones which are less processed and have lower sugar levels. Some have a higher cocoa percentage than others as well. Check the labels of the chocolate to find out the ingredients and calculate which you think will be the best for you.

It is best to look out for the ones which have low sugar and high cocoa and as few other additives as possible. There are some bars which contain raw unprocessed cocoa and these are likely to be the best healthy dark chocolate.

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A Bit of History

Thousands of years ago, the Aztec Empire had used cocoa as part of the ingredients to make spicy bitter drinks for their special occasions. At the later centuries, cocoa beans were brought to Spain, which then spread across Europe. Only at the end of the 19th Century, milk was added to chocolate to eat as well as to drink. Chocolate was once a fashionable choice, meant for the noble, rich and famous but now, it is meant for everyone.

Health Benefits

There are many conducted studies revealed the much benefits one could gain just by having a little bite of dark chocolate. To be considered as dark chocolate, a product should have at least 65 percent of cocoa content.

Why not dairy chocolate? A study shows that milk does interfere in the process of antioxidants absorption, thus lower the chances to fight certain disease. The same goes to white chocolate, which contains no flavonoids (solid cocoa), known to be important as an antioxidants agent.

The following are 3 main reasons why it is good to consume dark chocolate:

1. Antioxidants

Compounds called phenolic phytochemicals, or flavonoids found in cocoa act to protect the body from free radicals and damage that can lead to ailments such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes, asthma and cancer (lung cancer, prostate cancer).
Procyanidins produce nitric oxide which helps to stabilize blood pressure, balance up hormones inside the body and also decreases blood clotting.
It also lowers cholesterol level by reducing LDL (bad cholesterol) oxidation and help increase HDL (good cholesterol) concentrations in the blood.

2. Stimulants

Caffeine help eases the symptoms of pre-menstrual, boost spirits and increase energy.
Have low glycemic index which act to maintain blood glucose and insulin levels.
Theobromine is mildly diuretic (increases urine production), is a mild stimulant, and relaxes the smooth muscles of the bronchi in the lungs. (Note that this may be toxic or lethal to dogs and other domestic animals such as horses because these animals metabolize theobromine more slowly than humans).

3. Antidepressant and Aphrodisiac

Phenyl ethylamines and serotonin in chocolate are hormones known to help boost positive emotions.
Endorphins help create a sensational and pleasure feelings.
It also helps improving the flow of blood to the key regions of the brain thus prevents fatigue and ageing effects besides help to lift spirit.

Good Fats vs. Bad Fat

Some of the fats in chocolate do not impact our cholesterol. The fats are 1/3 oleic acid, 1/3 stearic acid and 1/3 palmitic acid:

Oleic Acid is a healthy monounsaturated fat that is also found in olive oil.
Stearic Acid is a saturated fat but one which research is shows has a neutral effect on cholesterol.
Palmitic Acid is also a saturated fat, one which raises cholesterol and heart disease risk.

That means, only 1/3 of the fats is bad for us. The others react positively throughout our body.

Useful Tips

One bar of dark chocolate has around 400 calories. If we eat half a bar of chocolate a day, we must balance those 200 calories by eating less of something else. It is always good to substitute our snacks or sweets with good bar of dark chocolate in our daily intakes.
Chocolate is a complex food with over 300 compounds and chemicals in each bite. To really enjoy and appreciate chocolate, take the time to taste it.
Avoid anything with caramel, nougat or other fillings as they tend to add fats and sugar besides holding us from getting the benefits of dark chocolate. However, chocolate with nuts, flavorings and peels will do just fine.
It is better not to eat chocolate with milk as it will prevent the antioxidants absorption in our body, thus erase the utmost benefits of chocolate.

A Healthy Diet

Dark chocolate by far is one of the best additions for a healthy diet. It can be consumed in any form like cakes, pastries, and bars or even as beverages. However, the key for healthy diets always come in moderation. This means that dark chocolate should be eaten moderately and never too much as it can still be a high-calorie and high-fat food. Fresh fruits and vegetables should always be eaten regularly as they are still the best source of antioxidants, therefore, never substitute them.

The author is a freelance writer dedicating her time doing general research on certain topic of interest regarding health issues. More health, nutrition and diet info available at http://healthnutritiondiet.blogspot.com

If someone were to tell you to eat more chocolate as part of a healthy diet, you may look at them like they sprouted a second head. Actually, they are right and wrong. Dark chocolate provides many healthy benefits, whereas milk chocolate and white chocolate do not. So, the statement should really be to eat more dark chocolate. The benefits of the healthy chocolate are that it helps fight off bad things in the body.

Dark chocolate offers many good healthy benefits. It has been shown to lower high blood pressure. That's not to say you should eat as much as you can get your hands on, but it is a good treat to have daily to increase the antioxidant levels in your body. The antioxidants destroy the free radicals that get in the body through poor diets and the environment which can lead to heart disease. Studies have been done to compare and contrast dark chocolate, white chocolate and milk chocolate. Dark chocolate, the healthy chocolate, was better for the body hands down over the others.

Although you cannot live on this kind of chocolate alone, making it a part of your daily diet is not a bad idea. Be sure that you balance it out with other healthy foods as well. Vegetables, lean meats and fruits are also important to take in regularly. Replace your sweets intake with the dark chocolate and include with your regular diet to be healthy.

If you hear your friend stating that she needs chocolate to reduce her stress, or to make her feel better after a bad day, then she is expressing the need for seratonin and phenylethylamine, which are mood boosters found in chocolate. Eating chocolate releases those into the body and gives a feel good experience

Not only will it help with heart and blood pressure, it reduces the levels of bad cholesterol in the body and can help increase blood flow to the brain. It is actually a good snack for diabetics. However, checking with the doctor before indulging would be wise. Even though it has good ingredients, it also contains sugar and fat as well. The flavonoids are the good part of the dark chocolate that outweighs the fattening characteristics. Keep the amounts of healthy chocolate reasonable, but know that when you choose that as a snack, you are doing something good for your body as well as your taste buds.

Rick Varner has dealt with low back pain and high blood pressure for years. He investigates and writes about healthy alternatives to drugs and chemicals. For more information about healthy dark chocolate, visit his website at [http://www.cocoarick.com]

Many people believe that consuming chocolate only makes their body fat, and some even anti-chocolate just because they are afraid of being fat. Yeah, it does contain fats, but did you know that it has many health benefits?

Chocolate is popular gift since hundreds of years ago. No needs to question why as all people know how delicious it is. It has inspired many writers and filmmakers to make stories and films about this delicious thing, and some people even swear that they would go anywhere to find chocolate!

Being widely sold in Valentine's Day, a chocolate is considered as a way to express one's love. Its sweet taste is often compared to the sweet feeling of love. The way it melts in your mouth is like how people melt when somebody states her or his love.

Made of cocoa, dark chocolate has many health benefits as (however) it is made from plants. It is rich of antioxidants that help you relax blood pressure. The content of antioxidants is 8 times the number found in strawberries! The antioxidants also help balance certain hormones in the body.

For those need something to lower cholesterol, this delicious food can be a good choice. Studies have shown that it can reduce LDL cholesterol. If you have high blood pressure, you can lower it by consuming only a small bar of dark chocolate everyday. It is also good for your heart and your cardiovascular system.

Many people even say that consuming chocolate makes people happy. Consuming it gives you a pleasure feeling since it stimulates the production of endorphin. For those often get depressed, they are suggested to consume it because it can act as an anti-depressant.

You may feel a dilemma of being fat and being healthy. However, it is a matter of your self discipline. Just limit your intake to stay healthy without being fat.

Doing sports regularly is also helpful in keeping you slim and healthy. Why do not you try to play softball? Professional players use softball pitching machines to increase their skills. You can consider buying pitching machine balls as a gift for yourself.

Dark chocolates have a lot of positives. Not only do they taste delightful but they can put a smile on anyone's face when given as a gift. Additionally, dark chocolates may also play a positive role in one's sex life. Now you know that someone feeding you Hershey cherry cordials can be very erotic and be a tasty part of foreplay but this is not the only way that dark chocolates might impact your sex life. There is actually evidence to suggest that dark chocolates, even one Hershey's cherry cordial, are an aphrodisiac. We do know for a fact that when chocolate is consumed serotonin is released in the brain, which is a feel good chemical. Also, dark chocolates have phenyl-ethylamine that stimulates a dopamine release in the brain's pleasure center which frequently occurs during orgasm. So, it appears that eating dark chocolate can make you happy in more ways than one!

Dark chocolates have been considered aphrodisiacs for thousands of years, even back to the Mayan empire. Today they retain their mysterious powers to heat up one's sex life and many women who eat dark chocolates on a regular basis report a better sex life than women who do not. Of course, there is no sound evidence that shows dark chocolates have a significant correlation with increased sexual enjoyment but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. There are lots of men and women out there who eat dark chocolates on a regular basis not only because they taste good but also to rev up their sex lives.

The stimulant that may help you with your sex life is found mostly in dark chocolate and considerably less in other chocolates like semi sweet and milk. So, if you want to enjoy an erotic evening of feeding chocolates to your partner make sure they are dark chocolates, specifically made with cacao, that have the most stimulant causing chemicals. Keep in mind that dark chocolates will not act as a drug and have you feeling as if you smoked pot or took a hit of ecstasy. But, dark chocolate will help you relax, get in the mood, and even sharpen your pleasure receptors so you will be more receptive to lovemaking.

Finding quality dark chocolates used to be quite difficult and then those you did find were bitter. But, today you can go in most stores and find outstanding dark chocolate on the shelves that will help you prepare for a night of passion not to mention there are many cardiovascular benefits to dark chocolate. There are lots of good reasons to add dark chocolate to your diet. Just don't go overboard because it still is fattening!

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. Dark chocolates may also play a positive role in one?s sex life. Now you know that someone feeding you Hershey cherry cordials can be very erotic and be a tasty part of foreplay but this is not the only way that dark chocolates might impact your sex life. There is actually evidence to suggest that dark chocolates, even one Hershey?s cherry cordial, are an aphrodisiac.

Contrary to popular belief, there are many benefits to eating chocolate, especially dark chocolate. Chocolate started out as a drink made from cacao beans in pre-Columbian Mexico hundreds of years ago. The drink was said to have revitalizing and restorative properties. Today, we enjoy chocolate mainly because of its sweet and rich taste. This is because of the added sugar and milk in the production of modern chocolate. However, chocolate started off as dark and bitter like the original cacao beans it came from.

Since the cacao bean originates from a plant, it contains a lot of the health benefits which are associated with dark vegetables. The benefits come from flavonoids. They act as antioxidants inside the body, protecting the body from aging that is caused by free radicals and damage that can lead to heart disease. A large amount of antioxidants can be found in dark chocolate. The flavonoids contained within it produce nitric oxide which helps to relax blood pressure and balance a number of hormones throughout the body.

What it comes down to it, dark chocolate can be very good for your heart. Eating a small bar of it every day can help keep your heart healthy and improve your cardiovascular system by reducing blood pressure and lowering cholesterol. Studies have shown that a daily intake of a small amount of dark chocolate reduces blood pressure. It has also been known to reduce LDL cholesterol by as much as ten percent.

The health benefits associated with dark chocolate are not limited to improving your heart. Many people prefer the slightly bitter taste of dark chocolate to the sweetened taste of normal milk chocolate. It contains much less sugar and fat than normal chocolate. It also stimulates the production of endorphins in the body which give a sensation of pleasure when eating it. It also contains serotonin which is an anti-depressant hormone. There is also caffeine and a number of other natural substances that act as stimulants. This is why so many people love eating chocolate. It tastes so good and leaves you feeling on a high afterwards.

While the taste of dark chocolate may require some getting used to, it is an excellent place to start if you want to lose weight by eating healthy. Instead of eating normal chocolate or candy bars try replacing it with a dark chocolate bar. It contains much less fat and sugar yet is still tasty and has more health benefits.

Like wine tasting, chocolate tasting is also something that can be greatly enjoyed. Because making chocolate has become such an involved process, with each bar containing over 300 different flavor compounds, it is worthwhile spending time to really taste and enjoy the chocolate. Dark chocolate is the original taste and is not smothered in sugar or added milk flavors. Dark is also the favored chocolate when it comes to cooking and baking. Chocolate that is both bitter and dark can be used in the preparation of savory dishes.

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Chocolate has been around for a long time. It has been a staple for many people to help them through their day. It has a calming effect on people who eat it. The problem with most chocolate that people indulge themselves with is that it is fattening. Milk chocolate and white chocolate are good at settling cravings for stress relief, but really have no positive effects biologically for your body. Dark chocolate, however, has a much different positive effect on the body.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Dark chocolate is considered the healthy chocolate. It has benefits that far outweigh those of the other chocolates available today. Milk Chocolate and even white chocolate contain fillers that give them that great taste. Fillers that are unnecessary for you and cause you to get rounder as you eat them on a regular basis. With the dark chocolate benefits, you could actually lose weight.

Eating this kind of chocolate provides you with antioxidants which will help remove free radicals from your body. These free radicals can wreak havoc on your digestive system and your overall health. They can make you feel tired and they definitely won't relieve your aches and pains as dark chocolate can. The antioxidants in dark chocolate are a benefit to your health because it can help to ease joint pain, arthritis, help with sleeping soundly, and reduce healing time between workouts. There are also the increase in energy levels by providing vitamin B into your body.

TASTE IS EVERYTHING

Everyone wants to be healthy and feel good, so what is not to like? The taste. Most things that promise better health are the things that don't taste so good. This can be conquered. This kind of chocolate provides all of the nutrients and healthy products that tastes good, too. As a matter of fact, eating the healthy, great-tasting dark chocolate helps you not be as hungry for more chocolate or other fattening foods as well. It seem to satiate the hunger. It satisfies your taste buds.

There are several types of dark chocolate that offer healthy benefits, the objective is to find the one that can substitute for the milk chocolate and white chocolate for which you are used to snacking. If you know it is better for you and it tastes just as good or even better than those others, then the health benefits you receive for eating it instead will help boost your body into excellence.

Rick Varner has dealt with low back pain and high blood pressure for years. He investigates and writes about healthy alternatives to drugs and chemicals. For more information about healthy dark chocolate, visit his website at [http://www.cocoarick.com]

People who are overweight at any point in their lives greatly increase their chances of developing diabetes, heart disease and numerous other health issues. Once you have decided it's time to take action and pursue a healthier lifestyle, you may be wondering what types of supplements and tools can help you along your path.

It is well known that whole food supplements can improve nutrient and vitamin absorption and levels within our bodies. Raw, whole foods are chock full of antioxidants; the best known way to ward off disease and sickness. The benefits of dark healthy chocolate for weight loss utilize this fact.

Due to the intricate process of making cold pressed cacao, whole nutrient levels are maintained in this whole food supplement. When compared to highly processed foods, the nutritional quality is superseded by nutrient levels in these products.

Benefits of dark healthy chocolate for weight loss include ease in use. Remember when mom wouldn't let you eat dessert before your dinner? Chocolate lovers rejoice! Many users of unprocessed healthy chocolate simply eat the delicious food prior to any meal. The nutrients found in the chocolate will "wake up" your digestive system and ready it for the work to come.

We are aware that in order to lose weight you need to feed your body the right foods, but also want to increase our basal metabolic rate. Our metabolism levels will determine how quickly we burn and utilize the nutrients we ingest. Anything that is not used will be turned into extra body fat.

The tannins and theo-bromine contained in this whole food increase the benefits of dark healthy chocolate for weight loss journeys. These ingredients may help to metabolize your meals more efficiently, thus converting less food into extra fat.

The efficiency levels of your digestive system are the first way to increase metabolic rates. When your intestines are working at full steam, so are the other cells throughout your body - in order to use the resulting nutrients quickly enough to keep up with your digestion. This increase in work throughout your body burns more calories at a higher rate, even while you are sitting dormant.

Increasing your metabolism also allows you to eat normally and not feel deprived. Other benefits of dark healthy chocolate for weight loss include the effect it has on your psyche. If you are a chocolate lover, you will never need to feel guilty about having a piece of your favorite sweet thing.

Preventing the feeling of being deprived will help you avoid overeating and consuming unhealthy sweet alternatives. Utilizing the benefits of dark healthy chocolate for weight loss, combined with a healthy diet and exercise, will help you reach your goals sooner than you thought possible. Dark healthy chocolate for weight loss has just one of the many health benefits and perhaps some that we aren't aware of at this time. The brand and reputation continues to grow with the scientific researches done nowadays. Helping friends and family better their health and improve their way of life can be achieved by eating dark healthy chocolate.

To learn more about Dark Healthy Chocolate for Weight Loss, visit Richard's Healthy Chocolate [http://benefitsofxocai.com] blog. Author: Richard is passionate about sharing health and wellness with others. He also devotes the time, energy, and effort into his team and works with them to ensure their success.

When most of us think of chocolate we know that while it may be fun to eat, that it can also make us fatter than we are today. Chocolate is not considered a food that you should eat while you're dieting as it's usually rich in sugar and calories.

Surprisingly, though, dark chocolate is a different story. Most people don't know about the many health benefits of dark chocolate and they should because it can prove to be a blessed addition to any weight loss process. Yes, I said weight loss.

Not every product which has "Dark Chocolate" printed on the cover really deserves that name. As most chocolates are filled with added sugar, you want to make sure that what you're eating will have a high dose of cocoa which is what makes dark chocolate healthy. A good rule of thumb would be to eat anything with 70% cocoa content or more. I usually go for 85% but most people find that to be too bitter. 70% should be enough and will still contain a lot of sweetness.

We all know how hard it is to stick to a diet plan and be deprived of anything sweet. This is where darker chocolate can actually help you lose weight. Being as healthy as it is, which we will get into in a moment, and rather low in sugar, it can help you satisfy your sweet tooth without filling you with empty calories and sugar. This can help you stick to your diet plan for longer and lose more weight in the long run.

But this isn't the end of the benefits of dark chocolate. It gets much better than this. You see, dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, powerful antioxidants which help your body destroy free radicals.

Free radicals are nasty little molecules which circle around in your body and attack your cells from within. They're destructive, potentially hazardous, and accelerate the aging process. Antioxidants are your best allies in the fight against these free radicals and dark chocolate if full of them.

The problem with milk chocolate is that it seems that milk interrupts how the body digests antioxidants, so you're not only getting tons of sugar but not enjoying the benefits either.

In addition, dark chocolate has been shown to act as an effective stress reducer. It basically helps you alleviate tension and induces a feeling of well-being. Naturally, this is something which can also lead to a sort of addiction, but as long as you eat it in moderation, the stress reduction effect can prove to be very beneficial.

Most people don't know, but stress can lead to an increase in abdominal fat. This means that dark chocolate can actually help you lose belly fat. Surprising, right?

Naturally, this article is not an invitation to stuff yourself silly with chocolate. You shouldn't overdo things. However, a small bar here and there can do little harm and much good.

To learn how to lose belly fat fast, go to How to Burn Belly Fat Fast.

To learn more about why chocolate is healthy go here: Healthy Benefits of Dark Chocolate.

John Davenport lost over 30 pounds in his twenties after being overweight most of his life. He now runs a weight loss forum and publishes a diet and fitness newsletter.

There are a lot of reasons why dark chocolate is many of Americans favorite cravings, there have been scientific studies that are showing exactly what is inside of a piece of dark chocolate. There is more to it than you think. There are a few chemicals inside every piece of chocolate that helps your body to produce natural feel good chemicals, as well as helping your kidney and liver to push out toxins that are being stored in your bloodstream. These toxins are responsible for bringing down your mood, and giving you that depressed feeling that you feel all too often.

This depressed mood is caused by stress normally incurred in your day to day life, but then life tends to get rough, your brain automatically releases chemicals to try and calm you down. The thing about these chemicals is though, that they suppress your body, and your brain function, giving you that down mood that is all too common. When life gets you down like this though, reach over for a piece of Dove dark chocolate, it's going to do more than just fix your sweet tooth. The natural substances inside of dark chocolate help to push the toxins from your blood stream, as well as getting your brain to turn around, and start producing chemicals that are going to help you feel a lot better. This feel good chemical, serotonin, begins being released as soon as you swallow your first bite.

There are a few types of dark chocolate that are a bit healthier for you than the run of the mill sugar based type. The first being organic dark chocolate, usually fetches a little higher price tag at the market, or health food store, because of the way that the cocoa is grown, and the amount of work that really goes into producing an organic chocolate. The farmers will avoid using pesticides, herbicides, and growth hormones to keep the amount of chemicals found inside of their plants down, and while it hasn't been proven, there is logical reason saying that removing harmful pesticides from foods you eat, can't possibly hurt you.

Sugar free dark chocolate is another way to enjoy your favorite sweet tooth fix, but it does take a little bit longer for your brain to start releasing serotonin, because of the lack of sugar. Sugar tends to speed up your blood flow, and digestive system which explains why regular dark chocolate gives you the pick me up so much quicker.

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I notice that with most sweets, the more I eat the more I want and the worse I feel. So I switched to dark chocolate as my "sweet" of choice. It is not actually very sweet, and that is a big benefit. Because dark chocolate is low in sugar, it doesn't trigger my desire for more. I can be satisfied with a small amount without craving other sweets.

Dark chocolate has been recognized for a number of health benefits. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, a group of antioxidants naturally found in certain fruits, vegetables, teas, wines, nuts, seeds and roots. Flavonoids are thought to reduce the risk of blood clots and to increase the blood flow in arteries. Cocoa has been found to have nearly twice the antioxidants of red wine and up to three times those found in green tea.

Studies have demonstrated that even small amounts of dark chocolate has a modest effect on lowering blood pressure. Just 30 calories worth of dark chocolate lowered blood pressure an average of 2.9 millimeters of mercury for the systolic pressure (which is the first or top number). Chocolate also improves mood by boosting serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain.

This is all good, but there are limits. Chocolate is high fat and high calorie, so we still need to be moderate about how much we eat. One ounce (28.35 grams) is considered a reasonable size serving. That amount contains somewhere in the range of 135-150 calories. Because dark chocolate is so satisfying in small amounts, many people find that even a smaller quantity works. One square of my favorite is enough for me, and just 60 calories.

Cocoa beans naturally contain caffeine, and since dark chocolate contains higher levels of cocoa it often contains more caffeine then milk chocolate. A one ounce serving averages about 20 mg of caffeine. This is less than most caffeinated soft drinks (35 - 60 mg) or coffee (ave 130 mg); but it is enough caffeine that those who are sensitive may want to avoid dark chocolate close to bedtime.

When purchasing dark chocolate, look for something that has 70% or more cocoa. Also look for products made with cocoa butter instead of fats such as palm and coconut oils. Avoid 'hydrogenated' or partially hydrogenated' additives. In the US some companies reduce the amount of cocoa butter without using vegetable fats by adding polyglycerol polyricinoleate, which is an artificial castor oil-derived emulsifier that stimulates the mouthfeel of fat.

While dark chocolate generally has lower sugar levels than other forms of chocolate, the sugar content varies. A little market research I conducted revealed a range of sugar levels from a low of 3.5 grams of sugar per ounce (Lindt Extra Dark) to a high of 12.7 grams per ounce (Dove Dark). Regular chocolate has 16 grams/ounce (Hershey's). If you have trouble stopping after a small portion, try another brand with lower sugar content.

Because of the low sugar content, dark chocolate usually seems pretty bitter at first. It is something of an acquired taste - but I have known avowed milk-chocolate enthusiasts who have switched over in time. Try letting the chocolate melt in your mouth to get maximum satisfaction from the rich texture.

I frequently recommend dark chocolate because it gives us the sense of indulging and yet is easy to eat in small portions. Most sweets and desserts trigger us to crave more. Cutting out sweets can set us up for feeling deprived and over-indulging when we do have them. Dark chocolate is a great substitute. It allows a small pleasurable indulgence without triggering the sugar craving response, and it contains healthful flavonoids. Enjoy!

Kathy Nichols is the Healthy Habits Coach. As a registered dietitian and certified life coach, Kathy helps people who are tired of diets and feeling guilty find a way of eating that is sustainable, healthy and enjoyable. website: http://healthyhabitscoach.com blog: http://healthyhabitscoach.wordpress.com