Food Articles & Product Announcements
Chocolate Has Health Benefits
Can chocolate really be good for you? Recent studies have shown that eating chocolate can be beneficial to your health. Chocolate contains a substance called catechins that could help prevent cancer and heart disease.
Catechins are strong antioxidants which clear away destructive molecules in the body called free radicals. Free radicals damage cells which help trigger heart disease and cancer. A large amount of antioxidants in your diet can help reduce your risk for developing heart disease and cancer.
Cocoa powder and chocolate are good sources of antioxidants. See the list of Top Antioxidant Foods below. Dark chocolate contains significantly higher amounts than milk chocolate per serving. You can also find catechins in large doses in green tea.
In addition, researchers have discovered that physical and emotional enjoyment from eating chocolate, even in small doses, can enhance immune function for hours afterwards. They believe that life's small pleasures may have a cumulative effect in boosting the immune system over a long period.
The good news is that moderate chocolate consumption offers health benefits. The bad news is that you can't eat whatever you want because too much chocolate can lead to weight gain.
TOP ANTIOXIDANT FOODS |
|
Dark Chocolate |
13,120 |
Milk Chocolate |
6,740 |
Prunes |
5,770 |
Raisins |
2,830 |
Blueberries |
2,400 |
Blackberries |
2,036 |
Kale |
1,770 |
Strawberries |
1,540 |
Spinach |
1,260 |
Raspberries |
1,220 |
Brussels Sprouts |
980 |
Plums |
949 |
Alfalfa Sprouts |
930 |
Broccoli Florets |
890 |
Oranges |
750 |
Grapes, red |
739 |
Red Bell Pepper |
710 |
Cherries |
670 |
Onion |
450 |
Corn |
400 |
Eggplant |
390 |
SOURCE: Data from U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
*ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) is a measure of the ability of foods to subdue harmful oxygen free radicals that can damage our bodies.
