Muffin Top-Less

A healthy Valentine’s Day splurge…. Dark Chocolate!

“When it comes to chocolate, darker is better. That is because really dark chocolate, 80-90% cocoa, has less sugar and fat and more protein than lighter shades of the sweet stuff. That’s not all! A 2008 study found that moderate consumption of dark chocolate may exert protective effects against the development of cardiovascular disease.

The same study found that dark chocolate consumption might have positive effects on metabolism, blood pressure, endothelial function and inflammation - all of which would help keep your ticker ticking.

Remember, cocoa, not chocolate, has flavonols, natural antioxidant compounds. So, the more diluted the cocoa becomes with sugar, milk, caramel and the like, the less cocoa your chocolate contains. Milk may also interfere with antioxidant absorption; so, milk chocolate doesn’t have nearly the health benefits of dark chocolate.”

Thanks for another awesome article, bb.com!