Chocolate

[anthrax]

I guess some of you ladies will like this article....

Flavonols in chocolate could be behind heart health benefits

Another study on chocolate finds that the dark variety decreases blood pressure and improves insulin sensitivity in healthy people, lending weight to its potential for heart health.

Researchers from the University of L'Aquila in Italy compared the effect of dark and white chocolate on blood pressure and glucose and insulin responses in 15 healthy individuals.

They were randomly assigned to receive either 100g of dark chocolate, which contained around 500mg polyphenols, or 90g white chocolate, which presumably contained no polyphenols, for 15 days. After a cocoa-free washout phase of seven days, the subjects were crossed over to the other condition.

HOMA-IR, a measure of insulin resistance, was significantly lower after dark than after white chocolate ingestion and insulin sensitivity was significantly higher after dark than after white chocolate ingestion, write the researchers in this month’s issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (vol 81, no 3, 611-614).

 

[Sassy69]

I guess I better add a Cadbury to my morning eggs & turkey mush!

 

[Firecracker]

Amen!

 

[cher36]

But I like milk chocolate

 

[wend]

Mmmm. Chocolate. I love all kinds, including dark. When I need a fix, I eat a small handful of organic Sundrops (healthy M&Ms). Yummy.

 

[cher36]

Tiggy: do yourself a favor and eat a freakin' chocolate!

 

[Firecracker]

The aisles at the grocery store now are full of yummy yummy chococlate bunnies and eggs....Oh it's sooooo hard to resist!

It's funny, at my grocery store, one side of the aisle is ALL chocolate and candy and the other side of the aisle is the health food and supplements. Go figure!

My only downfall is my crazy craving for chocolate!!!!

 

[cher36]

I have mini reese eggs in the pantry right now, I shall eat one for you tiggy, wend and firecracker Or shall I eat one for Each of you

 

[Firecracker]

I have mini reese eggs in the pantry right now, I shall eat one for you tiggy, wend and firecracker Or shall I eat one for Each of you

Or....I could eat them all!!!!

 

[jenscats5]

Chocolate can also:

1) Act as an antioxidant -- reducing LDL oxidation & boosting antioxidant levels & HDL concentrations in the blood

2) Keep blood platelets from clumping together, helping to prevent blood clots

3) Increases blood vessel flexibility -- unlike aspirin, some of the procyanidins in chocolate could trigger the production of nitric oxide, helping to keep arteries flexible & increasing blood flow.

(from Prevention magazine)

Of course, this effect is not with just any chocolate -- cocoa powder & dark chocolate is the way to go.

 

[Daisy_Girl]

I like Hershey's Dark Chocolate - not sure if that is true dark chocolate. Most dark choc is too bitter for me. But Hershey's does it right!

 

[PaganPunkstress]

chocolate is always in my diet!