German Study Proves Chocolate Is Good For You
Posted February 14, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
If you were one of the lucky ones who indulged in chocolate on Valentine’s Day, here’s some good news. Thanks to a German study, you shouldn’t feel guilty.
That is, if you’ve been having dark chocolate, in very small amounts. About six grams (one square of a typical bar) was found to lower blood pressure in otherwise healthy adults. And even better news for men: those that eat dark chocolate have a 50% lower risk of cardiovascular disease. No such luck for milk chocolate lovers – the milk negates the anti-oxidant properties.
Daniel Stubbe, the owner of Stubbe Chocolates, has noticed that shoppers are picking up on the healthful hints. “When I started my business ten years ago, we sold mostly milk and white chocolate. Nowadays it’s all dark…The higher the cocoa content, the better the chocolate is for you.” The benefits really kick in at a 70% cocoa content.
Just watch out for your waistline. An average person is supposed to consume about 2,000 calories a day. A normal chocolate bar has about 500.
On Valentine’s Day, when most of us are indulging ourselves, it’s nice to know you’re doing something for your sweetheart – and your own heart, too.
