Happy health news of the day: chocolate one of the best health foods

 Carol Forsloff - Chocolate, with its tantalizing
flavors and appeal to many, is found to be one of the healthiest foods
as well, according to nutritional scientists, making chocolate more likely to be eaten than spinach with this news.


What scientists have found are a high number of benefits from chocolate.  What are these that have popped up one by one in the news?


For one thing  chocolate has antioxidants that promote better health.  Chemicals in chocolate are called polyphenols
that protect cells against damage from free radicals that damage DNA and
have been associated with Alzheimer’s

disease, heart disease, and cancer.
Antioxidants prevent this damage from happening by blocking the action
of free radicals thereby reducing the risk of developing these diseases.


Chocolate has also been found to negatively impact the develop of atherosclerosis and to improve the blood flow to the brain. 

Chocolate husks also contain chemicals that prevent tooth decay.


It's problem.  It is associated
with sugar in candy bars and the like, but these days companies make
candy bars that are dark chocolate and sugar free.  Health experts say
reach for these because the fat and sugar are the negatives associated
with eating chocolate, which has to be reduced in the diet to be a good
health food.



In the final analysis it should be
easier to tell children, "Now go eat your chocolate," then "go eat your
spinach" when it comes to desirable taste, which might be the best
benefit of all.