Death by Chocolate!

In honor of Valentine's Day, and the favorite indulgence of almost everyone, we had a health seminar about chocolate today at work. I'll let you in on some good reasons to eat chocolate today:

· A few squares of dark chocolate each day can reduce risk of death from heart attack by half. Blood platelets clot more slowly after dark chocolate consumption. In addition, cocoa may decrease LDL cholesterol and have anti-inflammatory effects.
· Chocolate may decrease blood pressure and increase insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance, a risk factor for diabetes, was lower in those who ate dark chocolate versus those who ate white chocolate, which does not contain the same phytochemicals.
· Improvement in arterial blood flow. Blood vessels are able to relax better when chocolate is consumed. This is important for cardiovascular health.
· People with chronic fatigue syndrome report less fatigue after consuming chocolate. The participants in the study gained no weight from chocolate consumption. This may work because of the enhancement of the action of neurotransmitters like serotonin, which regulates mood and sleep.

And then some myths:

Myth 1: Chocolate is high in caffeine. Truth: a 1.4 ounce chocolate bar and an 8 ounce glass of chocolate milk each contain about 6 mg of caffeine, the amount in a cup of decaf coffee. Regular coffee contains 65-135 mg of caffeine.
Myth 2: Chocolate is loaded with saturated fat and is bad for your cholesterol. Truth: Stearic acid, which is the saturated fat found in cocoa, does not raise cholesterol like other saturated fats do. Some studies show that it may raise HDL (good) cholesterol.
Myth 3: Chocolate lacks any nutritional value. Truth: chocolate is a good source of magnesium, copper, iron, and zinc, plus it contains antioxidants called polyphenols that may help decrease risk of coronary heart disease. Other benefits may include lower blood pressure and improved insulin resistance.
Myth 4: Chocolate causes cavities. Truth: milk chocolate’s protein, calcium and phosphate may help protect tooth enamel. The naturally-occurring fat makes the chocolate clear the mouth faster than other candy therefore reducing the time sugar remains in contact with the teeth.
Myth 5: Chocolate causes headaches. Truth: no link between migraines and chocolate was found in a recent University of Pittsburg study.

Eat some chocolate today. Your health depends on it!