Finally We Have an Excuse to Binge! 6 Health Benefits of Chocolate

Have you ever wanted to just indulge in some major chocolate binging but barely held yourself in check? Well now you have some reason to.
For as long as time, chocolates have served as a welcome treat – whether they’re caressing our taste-buds, spicing up our sex lives or seeing us through the inevitable break-ups, chocolates always guarantee a pleasing experience. On the down side, we’ve often been told of the health risks associated with them; diabetes comes readily to mind while dentists have us believe that chocolates are teeth devils ready to steal, kill and destroy any dental cavity that is unfortunate enough to get in the creamy goodness of chocolates. But are chocolates really as unhealthy as we’ve been made to believe over time? Apparently not.
According to scientists, dark chocolates contain antioxidants – the same chemical that can be found in red wine and vegetables which are renowned for their good effect on the heart. In other words, chocolates are great for the heart!
‘Dare I believe?’, I hear you ask. Yes you should! There’s a ton of reasons why moderate chocolate binging is healthy and here’s 6 of such  reasons:

• Healthy heart: Dark chocolates are rich in antioxidants which increases the flexibility of veins and arteries thereby reducing blood pressure and the risk of stroke.

• Dieting: As outrageous as it may sound, chocolates actually help in dieting. According to a study done in one of the world’s chocolate headquarters, Copenhagen, dark chocolate is more filling and offers a feeling of satisfaction thereby lessening the craving for sweet, salty or fatty foods.

• Controls blood sugar: In another twist, a small Italian study showed that people who ate one bar of dark chocolate for 15 days saw their potential for insulin resistance drop by nearly half! Translation: dark chocolates decrease chances of developing diabetes…go figure!

• Reduces stress level: A study by Swiss scientists also showed that when anxious people ate one and half ounces of chocolate every day for 2 weeks, the stress hormone level reduced. So is your boss driving you crazy or is the stress of everyday hustling getting to you? Grab a chocolate bar!

• Boosts brain power: If you’ve been working for 5 hours straight and find yourself completely at a slump, it might be a good time to grab a bar of chocolate. According to a study by the University of Nottingham, chocolates contain caffeine which is rich in flavanols and flavonols boosts blood flow to key parts of the brain for about 2 to 3 hours which could improve performance and alertness in the short term.

• Promotes feel-good sensation: it isn’t for nothing ladies get the urge to binge on chocolate while nursing a broken heart. In a study conducted by Prof Claudi Ferri of University of L’Aquila, Italy, it was revealed that flavonoids increases nitric acid production which produces a positive effect on the mood much like the same feeling you get when you’re falling in love or you’re happy.

Remember, all binging must be done in moderation! Bon apetit!