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Health & Fitness

Sweet & Healthy ... The Health Benefits of Chocolate

It's time to splurge this Valentine's Day!  Did you know chocolate has many great health benefits?  Regardless if you are curing a broken heart or celebrating with chocolate this Friday, you will reap some benefits if you eat the right kind!

The first tip is to stick to chocolate with at least 70% cacoa.  Once the percentage of cacao goes down, you can assume the sugar and milk content go up.  The more it decreases, the more the cacao is diluted; losing it's healthy benefits.

1. Cardiovascular Benefits: Studies have shown that a square or two of dark chocolate can reduce chance of heart attack and stroke PLUS cut your risk for heart failure.  Thank you antioxidants!

2. Decrease Cravings.  That's right.  Dark chocolate as a snack while trying to lose weight will actually help you decrease cravings for it's sweeter sibling.  It lessens cravings for sweet, salty and fatty foods.  Hello dark chocolate, where have you been all my life!

3. Happiness & Children.  Women who ate chocolate during pregnancy were able to handle stress better than mothers who didn't.  There was a study in Finland that found their babies were happier as well.  Grab the Ghirardelli ladies!

4. Higher Intelligence.  Dark Chocolate boosts BRAIN POWER!  Cocoa rich in flavanols boosts blood flow to parts of the brain.  This can help improve alertness in the short term!

Don't be upset if your honey buys you chocolate this Valentine's Day.  Thank them for all the great benefits you are going to gain.  These are just a few of the health side effects that chocolate will give you.  There are many more since dark chocolate is high in antioxidants and flavanols!  Savor every bite!

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