Need a reason to justify indulging in chocolate? I'm currently doing an internship at the Hershey Foods corporation and reviewing peer reviewed articles that have researched the benefits of chocolate. Regular consumption of dark chocolate and/or cocoa products has shown to reduce blood pressure, lower low-density lipoproteins ("bad" cholesterol) and total cholesterol, improve insulin sensitivity, support healthy blood vessels, and increase your blood's antioxidant capacity. A lot of research has supported these statements; however, more research is needed to determine the amount of chocolate and other factors that may affect these statements.
The take home message? There are no such thing as a "bad" food. Well, actually I take that back. Baby bottle pops, colored twizzlers, and nerds are bad foods. Sugar + an unprecedented amount of artificial ingredients + Sugar + no beneficial nutrients + Sugar. What I mean to say, is that our conception of chocolate could use some revisiting. Cocoa may in fact be beneficial for our health. The key is moderation and balance. Any food (again, with a few exceptions) can fit into a diet that is balanced. So don't feel bad the next time you have a Hershey kiss. Just make sure you only have a couple instead of the whole bag :) I enjoy having semi-sweet chocolate chips as a treat after dinner. Mix 1-2 Tbsp with an ounce of almonds or peanuts and dried cranberries...YUM!
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